Alcohol During Pregnancy | Drinking While Pregnant

Drinking While Pregnant

If you are pregnant or expect to get pregnant you might want to reconsider drinking alcoholic beverages. Drinking while pregnant is a risk that most mothers to be would not want to take. The blood quickly absorbs the alcohol as it circulates in the blood stream until it is processed by the liver. It can take a couple of hours for the liver to break down the alcohol in a glass of beer or wine and by that time the alcohol in the bloodstream goes straight through the placenta to the fetus. Alcohol interferes with the ability of the fetus to get a sufficient supply of oxygen and nourishment for proper development of the brain and body organs. The longer the alcohol stays in the system the more the baby drinks and the more complicated the problems can be. Alcohol during pregnancy is considered to be very dangerous to your babies health.

How much can I drink while pregnant?

There is no safe limit of alcohol intake for a mom to be. It is for sure the more you drink the higher risk you take. Actually the baby takes the risk of being born with (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) FASD. When you find out you are pregnant you need to seriously consider not drinking any more alcohol. However if this is a problem you might consider a Substance Abuse Treatment Facility to help yourself. It is never too late to quit drinking. However the sooner you quit the better, to avoid the risk of having a baby with life long birth defects.

Is (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) FASD Preventable?

This is the only Birth Defect that is 100% preventable. Don’t drink while pregnant & avoid risking your baby to FASD. If you do not drink there will be no birth defects due to alcohol. There other causes of birth defects however FASD will not be a risk. The mother is not the only one that can help in preventing FASD the father can help to encourage the mother to abstain from drinking alcohol during the pregnancy. It might be a good idea to avoid social functions that involve alcohol.

Could (Fetal alcohol syndrome) FAS be that Serious?

FAS is a Permanent, lifelong condition that effects every aspect of the Childs life as well as the family. There are many mental and physical defects that develop in the unborn child. These children are born with handicaps that require special care for their entire lives. Some have slow growth patterns and may always be small in relation to their peers, some with facial abnormalities, poor coordination, learning disabilities, may not ever be able to face problems in daily living, poor reasoning and judgment as well as mental retardation. Remember this is the only birth defect that is 100% preventable. Nothing is worth risking your unborn child to these awful disorders.