Alcohol And Pregnancy

If you are pregnant and wondering if there are any risks involved when it comes to consuming alcoholic beverages during pregnancy, then you will want to carefully read the information provided to you in this medical guide.

When alcohol is consumed during pregnancy it passes with ease through the placenta directly to the fetus which essentially means that when you drink alcohol so does your unborn child. Alcohol is a teratogen which is well known as a substance which can potentially cause birth defects therefore, any type of beverage which contains alcohol is unsafe to drink during pregnancy.

There are two very serious conditions which can develop when alcohol is consumed during pregnancy which are more commonly found in women who binge drink or are moderate to excessive alcohol users however, there is the potential for any amount of alcohol to harm an unborn baby so it is strongly advised that you avoid drinking any alcohol during pregnancy.

One of the conditions that can occur is "FAS" or "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome" which can cause malformations of the major organs, facial and skeletal structure. "FAS" can also cause mental retardation, problems within the central nervous system, poor motor skills, and delayed learning skills.

Another condition which also known to be caused from alcohol consumption is "Fetal Alcohol Effects" of which there are two kinds: "ARND" or "Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder" and "ARBD" or "Alcohol-Related Birth Defects". "ARND" pertains to the behavioral and mental problems such as learning disabilities and issues with attention spans and memory.

"ARBD" are the problems which are associated with the physical aspects such as the malformation of the skeletal system, and major organs. "Fetal Alcohol Effects" are most commonly seen in women who are binge drinkers and excessive alcohol users while "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome" is seen more commonly in moderate consumers of alcohol.

As you can see, there are many dangers when it comes to the use of alcohol during pregnancy and the wisest choice for you and the health of your baby would be to abstain from drinking any alcohol during pregnancy.