Alcohol Use During Pregnancy
What it is
Alcohol use (including wine, beer and liquor) is the leading preventable cause of birth defects in the U.S. In the womb, a baby doesn't have a fully developed liver that can process alcohol, so it can easily get to and damage the baby's organs.
While some of the most severe problems happen when a pregnant woman drinks in the first trimester when the baby's brain starts to develop, the second and third trimesters aren’t safe either. The brain is still developing then, and this process can be interrupted by even moderate amounts of alcohol.
There is no "safe" amount of alcohol pregnant women can drink, and there is no time during pregnancy when it’s considered safe to drink alcohol.
Symptoms or signs
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are a group of birth defects that can happen when a pregnant woman drinks alcohol.
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is the most severe type of the disorder.
FAS and other spectrum disorders affect children differently, and symptoms can range from mild to severe including:
Symptoms of FAS tend to become worse as a person grows or gets older.
Prognosis and methods of treatment
There is no lab test that can prove a child has FAS. Many of its symptoms can seem like ADHD.
Diagnosing fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
To diagnose FAS doctors look for:
They also try to find out whether the mother drank while she was pregnant and if so, how much. The symptoms of FAS can't be cured, but early diagnosis and treatment can improve a child’s development and outlook. Research shows that children do better when they:
Therapy can help with behavioral and educational problems. Parents can also receive training to help their child. Medications can help manage symptoms like hyperactivity, inability to focus or anxiety, but a child with fetal alcohol syndrome needs to be watched closely to determine whether their treatment needs to be adjusted.
Source: WebMD Medical Reference
Alcohol use (including wine, beer and liquor) is the leading preventable cause of birth defects in the U.S. In the womb, a baby doesn't have a fully developed liver that can process alcohol, so it can easily get to and damage the baby's organs.
While some of the most severe problems happen when a pregnant woman drinks in the first trimester when the baby's brain starts to develop, the second and third trimesters aren’t safe either. The brain is still developing then, and this process can be interrupted by even moderate amounts of alcohol.
There is no "safe" amount of alcohol pregnant women can drink, and there is no time during pregnancy when it’s considered safe to drink alcohol.
Symptoms or signs
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are a group of birth defects that can happen when a pregnant woman drinks alcohol.
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is the most severe type of the disorder.
FAS and other spectrum disorders affect children differently, and symptoms can range from mild to severe including:
- Problems with the heart, kidney and/or bones
- Learning disabilities and low IQ
- Trouble with memory, coordination and attention
- Hyperactivity
- Problems with sleep and suckling as an infant
Symptoms of FAS tend to become worse as a person grows or gets older.
Prognosis and methods of treatment
There is no lab test that can prove a child has FAS. Many of its symptoms can seem like ADHD.
Diagnosing fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
To diagnose FAS doctors look for:
- unusual facial features
- lower-than-average height and/or weight
- small head size
- problems with attention and hyperactivity
- poor coordination
They also try to find out whether the mother drank while she was pregnant and if so, how much. The symptoms of FAS can't be cured, but early diagnosis and treatment can improve a child’s development and outlook. Research shows that children do better when they:
- Are diagnosed before age 6
- Are in a loving, nurturing and stable home during their school years
- Are not exposed to violence
- Receive special education and social services
Therapy can help with behavioral and educational problems. Parents can also receive training to help their child. Medications can help manage symptoms like hyperactivity, inability to focus or anxiety, but a child with fetal alcohol syndrome needs to be watched closely to determine whether their treatment needs to be adjusted.
Source: WebMD Medical Reference
