What’s the Risk?
When a mother consumes alcohol during pregnancy, the alcohol travels from her body into the baby’s, where it takes longer to break down. This can lead to lifelong damage for the child in the form of a series of defects known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), the most serious of which is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). The risk to the fetus appears to be greatest during the first three months of pregnancy, when the brain, heart and major organs are developing, although drinking at any point during pregnancy carries risk. Because the brain and central nervous system (CNS) continue to develop throughout the pregnancy, alcohol consumption at any point can pose a threat to the child.
This also means that consuming alcohol while attempting to become pregnant can pose a serious risk because most women do not know that they are pregnant for at least four to six weeks after conception. If you had a glass of wine before you knew that you were pregnant, chances are that the baby won’t be harmed, but you can share your concerns, as well as how much alcohol you consumed, with your OB or primary care physician.
What do FASDs look like?
According to data published by the American Physiological Society, more than 500,000 women admit to drinking during pregnancy, and about 20 percent of that population admitted to binge drinking. This drinking can lead to scary consequences for infants because binge drinking and consuming any alcohol during the first eight weeks of pregnancy are the two largest risk factors for infants developing FASDs or FAS. Among the symptoms of FASDs children experience: