Drink lovers may get sheer fun and enjoyment from their favorite alcoholic beverages, but they may need to control their urge under certain situations. A woman may need to stay away from alcoholic drinks if she has conceived. Pregnancy will involve a lot of lifestyle changes and will demand "sacrifices" from a would-be mother! Drinking any kind of alcoholic drinks like beer, wine, wine coolers, liquor or mixed drinks, when you are pregnant may harm your baby. You should note that a glass of wine, a can of beer and a cocktail come with almost the same amount of alcohol.
In a study conducted with 2,000 mothers, researchers concluded that the timing and the intensity of the mothers' drinking during pregnancy affected the type of behavioral problems their children developed in their later lives. These mothers were interviewed three months after delivering their babies and then they were subjected to follow-up interviews when their children turned 2, 5 and 8 years. The other findings were:
- Children of mothers who drank heavily during the first trimester of pregnancy were three times more likely to suffer from anxiety or depression.
- Children of mothers who drank moderately in the first trimester were only twice as likely to suffer from anxiety and depression.
- Children of mothers who drank heavily or moderately during the third trimester were more likely to develop aggressive type of behaviors.
Research has shown that a developing fetus has very little tolerance for alcohol and that infants born to mothers who drink during pregnancy can have serious problems. Research also suggests that women who plan to get pregnant should stop drinking before they even conceive.
How Does a Pregnant Woman's Alcohol Consumption Affect the Growing Fetus or the Infant?
- Infants may show slow growth and developmental delay, unusual facial features, irritability, brain and neurological disorders, mental retardation and problems with their attachment to their fathers.
- Growth defects and disabilities like limited movement of the joints, curved spine and hip dislocations, poor body, hand and finger coordination have also been observed in these children.
- School going children may have problems with learning and reading. They may have trouble following directions and doing small tasks or simple things. With low tolerance levels of frustration, they may also face problems in their social lives.
- In case of newborn babies, alcohol interferes with the ability to get enough oxygen and nourishment for normal cell development in the brain and other body organs.
- When a woman drinks too much of alcohol during pregnancy, her baby develops a pattern of mental and physical defects which is known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). Babies born with FAS may have serious disabilities and hence they will need special care and attention throughout their lives. These children may need to be placed under the guidance of special teachers and schools.
- A child may have a small head, a flat face and narrow eye openings. In other words, he may take birth with unusual facial features. This becomes more prominent after the child attains the age of 2 or 3 years.
- Children of mothers, who drank alcohol during pregnancy, may face growth problems. Children who were exposed to alcohol before they were born may be smaller than the other children of the same age.
- Birth defects involving body parts such as the eyes, ears, heart, bone or the urinary tract may also result.
- Heavy alcohol use during pregnancy can also lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth.
- Sons of mothers who drink alcohol during pregnancy, may have problem with their sperm concentration when they become adults. Researchers at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark, studied 347 sons born to 12,000 women who drank alcoholic beverages during pregnancy. Those who had been exposed to heavy alcohol use while in the womb, had sperm concentrations one third lower than those men who were exposed to little or no alcohol in the womb.
- Bent, fused, webbed or missing fingers or toes have often been observed in such children.
There are many ways to stop drinking alcohol and when it comes to your baby, probably you will not require a more important reason for quitting alcohol. If someone offers you a drink you should learn to say "No" and in fact tell the other person to quit too, especially if she is a lady just like you! Remove all traces of alcohol from your house and seek support from your husband and other family members. Avoid going to places or parties where you may be encouraged to drink. Opt for water and other beverages like coke or lime water instead of going for the hard drinks! Enjoyment does not necessarily mean having fun with drinks or drinking, but it definitely involves staying in good and positive company and doing or thinking something very constructive!
