Most women know that drinking excessively isn’t good for an unborn child, and many have heard of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) - the worst consequence of alcohol addiction in pregnant mothers. But few women are aware of the fact that even one drink a week can harm their unborn child.
FAS affects thousands of children every year. Untreatable birth defects that lead to poor memory, attention problems, impulsive behavior, and other mental and emotional issues make these children difficult to educate and raise. Their lives often turn into a maelstrom of drug and alcohol addiction, substance-related crime, and violence. Statistically, kids with FAS are more likely to die violent deaths than others. Other than miscarriage or dying in the womb, FAS is the worst consequence of drinking while pregnant.
But even mothers who have one drink a week are risking problems for their child. A study called Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Predicts Continued Deficits in Offspring Size at 14 Years of Age found that 14-year-old children of mothers who had just one drink per week during pregnancy are smaller (including smaller head size – which can indicate smaller brains) than children of mothers who didn’t drink at all.
Another study, Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Childhood Behavior at Age 6 to 7, found that children of mothers who had one drink a week were more likely to act like little juvenile delinquents.
In fact, there are many similar studies and they all show the same thing: children of mothers who drink, even one drink a week, are much more likely than other children to have problems with attention and memory, hyperactivity, impulsive behavior, social skills, communication skills, mood swings, and so on – all the problems that have resulted in so many children being put on drugs just to be able to get through a day at school. These kids, like the FAS kids, are also more prone to drug and alcohol addiction and abuse.
Why does so little alcohol cause such disastrous effects? While alcohol is dangerous for adults, mature bodies process alcohol very quickly. Unless the person is drinking continuously, the alcohol is flushed out of their system quickly.
When you’re pregnant, the alcohol passes through your body to the placenta – the baby’s food supply – very quickly and the baby can’t get rid of it for quite a while. It stays in their little body for a long time, effecting their development every step of the way. So, the occasional drink for mom can be the equivalent of continuous drinking for baby. This can create the same effect as alcohol addiction and dependency does in an adult.
Recent research showed that one night of drinking can impair an adult’s thinking for a month. Multiply that by many times, along with the physical deterioration, and you’ll have an idea of what it does to an unborn baby.
If you’re planning on becoming pregnant, now is the time to quit drinking - even if you only have one drink a week. Since we don’t often know we’re pregnant until we’re two or three months along, waiting until you know is a mistake.
If you have a problem with alcohol addiction or have trouble stopping, get into an alcohol rehab program that will help you quit drinking and help make sure you don’t relapse while you’re pregnant.
However, if you have a problem with alcohol addiction, dependency or abuse and are already pregnant, make sure you consult with your doctor and a good drug and alcohol rehab specialist before you quit drinking. The withdrawal process can be very stressful physically, and may also damage the baby.
Let’s face it, life is hard enough. Whether you have a serious alcohol addiction problem that requires alcohol rehab or just have to quit having the occasional social drink, do it. Give your child every possible chance to have a good life.
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