FASDs include a range of physical and intellectual disabilities that are not always easy to identify when a child is a newborn. Some of these effects may not be known until your child is in school. When pregnant people have support from people around them, it can make saying no to alcohol a lot easier. Studies have also suggested that women are less likely to drink during their pregnancies if their partners also abstain. When you drink, your developing baby can get about the same concentration of alcohol from your blood.
Through study, experts have found that alcohol can transfer into breast milk, further exposing a newborn to dangerous levels of alcohol. Addiction to alcohol is complex and not a struggle most people can or should try to overcome alone. If you are pregnant and struggling with alcohol use, treatment is available to help you overcome your addiction. At Vertava Health, we offer respectful and specialized rehab programs for pregnant patients that provide comprehensive medical and behavioral treatment. To learn about CDC activities to educate the public about the harms of tobacco use, visit Tips From Former Smokers® (Tips®) from the Office on Smoking and Health. The Tips® campaign features information about how smoking and secondhand smoking affect specific groups, including pregnant women or women planning to have a baby.
Q: Is it okay to drink alcohol if I am trying to get pregnant?
Drinking alcohol while pregnant is a leading cause of birth defects in a fetus. Alcohol is broken down more slowly in the immature body of the fetus than in the body of an adult. This can cause the alcohol levels to remain high and stay in the baby’s body longer. The risk of miscarriage and stillbirth also goes up if the mother drinks alcohol. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders refer to a number of developmental and physical consequences that can occur when a fetus is exposed to alcohol through the mother during pregnancy. According to the American Pregnancy Association, an estimated 40,000 babies per year in the United States are affected by FAS or FASD.
- It is also thought that alcohol consumption before conception also affects sperm.
- Fetal alcohol syndrome causes brain damage and growth problems.
- In some cities, there are clinics whose staffs have special training in diagnosing and treating children with FASDs.
- This causes the developing baby to absorb the same alcohol content as the mother, with a decreased ability to properly process it.
- If you’re having trouble reducing or stopping your alcohol consumption, talk to your healthcare professional for advice and support.
If you used any amount of alcohol while you were pregnant, talk with your child’s health care provider as soon as possible and share your concerns. Most individuals reduce or stop their alcohol consumption as soon as they realize that they are pregnant. Alcohol use commonly causes dehydration and malnutrition, resulting in lower levels of essential vitamins and nutrients people need to feel well physically and mentally. People who are pregnant require even more nutrition, and can experience worsened symptoms of malnutrition as a result of heavy drinking and poor diet. Alcohol use is a serious and complex problem that can have debilitating effects on a person’s health and quality of life.
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When you drink, alcohol passes from your blood through the placenta to your baby and can seriously affect its development. There is no cure for FASDs, but research shows that early intervention treatment services can improve a child’s development. People who are nursing can speak with a healthcare professional about how much alcohol is safe to drink.
The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. To learn more about technical assistance services or if you have a question please email NCSACW at or call toll-free at 1–866–493–2758. If you are pregnant and struggling with alcohol dependency, you are not alone. While the most effective course of action is to talk to your doctor about your drinking, many people can feel guilty or ashamed about admitting they have a problem. Babies are developing through every stage of pregnancy and are vulnerable to the toxic effects alcohol can have on their bodies.
How much alcohol will harm the fetus?
Fetal alcohol deficits are lifelong issues with no current treatment or established diagnostic or therapeutic tools to prevent and/or ameliorate some of these adverse outcomes. Despite the recommendation to abstain, almost half of the women consume alcohol in pregnancy in the United States. During the first weeks of pregnancy babies grow at a rapid pace, even before the mothers know they are pregnant. From conception and to the third week, the most susceptible systems and organs are the brain, spinal cord, and heart. These crucial organs start forming in early stages of pregnancy, which are very sensitive and critical periods in human development.
The most effective way to prevent fetal or maternal damage during pregnancy is to seek help for alcohol use as soon as possible. In addition to developmental problems within the womb, there are several signs of FASD that can become apparent weeks or months after a baby is born. The complications of FASD can be extensive and follow babies into early childhood. In cases where a pregnancy is unplanned, however, or the mother is struggling with addiction, quitting alcohol isn’t so straightforward. Pregnancy is not always a choice, and may often occur by accident or through assault. People with alcohol use and addiction are at increased risk of sexual violence, as well as unsafe sex, and this can lead to an unplanned pregnancy.
For women who do not have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol and who want to have a drink on a special occasion, they shouldn’t fear being judged or have others make that decision for them. However, pregnant patients who choose to drink should understand that any alcohol consumption – not just binge drinking – increases specific risks during pregnancy. For decades, researchers have known that heavy drinking during pregnancy can cause birth defects. But the potential effects of small amounts of alcohol on a developing baby are not well understood. Many people don’t discover that they are pregnant until 4 to 6 weeks after conception, and as many as half of pregnancies are unplanned. The most effective way to avoid the harmful effects of alcohol during pregnancy is to stop drinking as soon as you begin trying to become pregnant.
There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy. See Pregnant Pause , where partners and friends can make an alcohol-free pledge in support of their pregnant partner or friend. At Vertava Health, our treatment specialists understand that this is a delicate issue. Our programs empower patients to recognize the strength in seeking help, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ and provide a welcoming setting that prioritizes their respect and dignity. Your baby does not have a fully developed liver and cannot process alcohol. (1) At Home – A stable and loving home, along with a regular routine, simple rules to follow and where rewards are given for positive behavior, is a good environment for children with FAS.
