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Alcohol & pregnancy
Babies and booze.
Article by : SpunOut.ie
If you smoke or drink when pregnant then your unborn child is also getting the effects of that fag or glass of vodka.
You and your baby deserve the best chance of good health and you are responsible for the health of your baby. So you need to think seriously about the effects of alcohol and smoking on both you and the unborn baby.
What happens if you drink alcohol when pregnant?
- Every time you drink alcohol when pregnant your baby does too. The alcohol goes through your bloodstream and passes into your baby's blood via the placenta. This can lead to brain damage, as alcohol interferes with the baby’s ability to get enough oxygen to his/her brain.
- Babies born to mothers who drink alcohol may be born with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. Foetal Alcohol Syndrome can cause serious physical and mental problems. A person born with this condition may have serious disabilities and require lifelong care as a result. Scientists and doctors still do not know just how much or how little alcohol will cause this syndrome, so it is better for women to just avoid drinking any alcohol at all.
- Drinking increases the chances that your baby won’t grow properly. Babies born to mothers who drink tend to be smaller in weight and height. This may affect the baby’s chance of survival.
- You are more likely to miscarry if you drink alcohol. According to one large Danish study, women who drink even moderately are more likely to miscarry during the first trimester.
- Your baby might have problems later, like learning difficulties or being hyperactive.
How much is too much?
- There is NO safe amount of alcohol you can drink when pregnant.
- The best thing is to stop drinking alcohol when pregnant or when trying to become pregnant.
- The most dangerous time to drink alcohol is in the first three months of pregnancy.
- You shouldn't drink at all but if you have two normal drinks or more everyday OR four or more in one day when pregnant then you are drinking a dangerous amount.
- Heavy drinking (five or more drinks in one day) means your baby risks being born with brain damage or other birth defects.
- If you are breast-feeding alcohol will pass to your baby through the milk. If you want a drink during this time, wait until after feeding the baby. A normal drink takes an hour to leave the body.
