pregnancy

effect of alcohol on pregnancy

[heatherlynn22]

What effect does alcohol have on a fetus?

A woman who drinks alcohol while she is pregnant may harm her unborn baby (fetus). Alcohol can pass from the mother’s blood into the baby’s blood. It can damage and affect the growth of the baby’s cells. Brain and spinal cord cells are most likely to have damage.

The term “fetal alcohol spectrum disorder” (FASD) describes the range of alcohol effects on an unborn child. The problems range from mild to severe. Alcohol can cause a child to have physical or mental problems that may last all of his or her life.

The effects of alcohol can include:

    * Odd facial features. A child may have a small head, flat face, and narrow eye openings. It may be hard to pick out one trait, but in general, a child's head and face just don't look right. This gets more obvious by age 2 or 3.
    * Growth problems. Children who were exposed to alcohol in the womb may be smaller than other children of the same age.
    * Learning and behavior problems.
    * Birth defects. Problems can occur that involve parts of the body such as the eyes, ears, heart, bones, or urinary tract.

Heavy alcohol use during pregnancy can also lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or a baby being born early.

that is from peacehealth . org.

[spade22]

Very serious to baby and can result in many problems including death.  Heatherlynns post sums it up nicely.

[martikadragoon]

Yes. :)  Lemme add.... if your not a heavy drinker, and you abstain throughout your first trimester... SOME doctors say a glass of red wine a week (a NORMAL wine glass not a topped off glass) is ok and actually healthy...

But always speak to your doctor first because doctors have different views on everything.