Alcohol During Pregnancy – Future Baby’s Health at Risk

Is it possible to consume alcohol during pregnancy – this question is often asked by women planning to become mothers. Although alcohol consumption is considered normal in modern society, alcohol and pregnancy are “incompatible things.” This axiom is, as they say, “written in blood,” and the issue of “alcoholism and offspring” has concerned the greatest minds of humanity throughout history. 

In ancient Carthage, there was a law that prohibited the consumption of wine on days of fulfilling marital duties, and even two thousand years ago, Plutarch expressed his views on alcohol during pregnancy with the famous phrase – a drinker begets drinkers. Modern myths about the harmlessness of small doses of alcohol during pregnancy, if they are light drinks – dry wines, champagne, are fundamentally incorrect and harmful. Women carrying a child must know that alcohol is an absolute taboo at all stages of pregnancy.

Ban on alcohol during pregnancy – a harsh necessity

The overwhelming majority of medical professionals agree that consuming alcohol during pregnancy is unacceptable from the very first days. They explain that every glass of an alcoholic drink a pregnant woman consumes is also “drunk” by her unborn child, and they digest it together. Therefore, banning alcohol completely is advisable for future mothers even during the family planning stage. Ideally, this rule should apply to both parents. 

Consuming alcohol during pregnancy, once it has begun, is criminal towards both oneself and the future child, as its negative effects are felt by both. This applies even to single doses of alcohol, not to mention regular consumption, which can provoke premature birth or miscarriage. Since some cold remedies contain alcohol (up to 25%), even these should be purchased with caution by expectant mothers.

First Trimester – The Dangers of Alcohol Consumption

The myth that alcohol cannot harm an unborn child in the first trimester is extremely dangerous. It is argued that in the early stages, before the placenta is formed, the baby does not receive nutrients from the mother. However, even a small amount of alcohol entering the bloodstream can terminate the pregnancy by preventing the egg from implanting in the uterus.

But even after the embryo has implanted, the risk of alcohol during early pregnancy does not decrease. It can have serious consequences for fetal development, causing physical deformities, mental developmental delays, and missed miscarriage. By the end of the first month, the baby’s heart starts beating, and in the first two months, its nervous system is forming – consuming alcohol during this stage exposes the embryo to additional risk. The development of fetal alcohol syndrome, even with 3-4 small doses of alcohol, has been confirmed by many studies.

Second Trimester – What Pregnant Women Should Know

In the second trimester of pregnancy, alcohol does not become any less dangerous for the fetus. As various body systems develop, the potential for its negative impact on the future child also increases. Its consumption can lead to disruptions in the formation of the respiratory system and cause premature birth. Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that consuming alcohol while pregnant in the second trimester increases the risk of having a baby with low birth weight by 68%. 

When considering having a drink with an alcohol-containing beverage, a pregnant woman should remember that it causes irreparable harm, slowing the development of the child’s joints. Therefore, it is almost guaranteed that the child may experience problems with motor function in the future. Between weeks 13 and 27, the baby is actively growing, and the liver, lungs, and hearing organs are forming — their proper formation is at risk of disruptions in case of alcohol consumption.

Third trimester – important developmental milestones

Can you drink alcohol during pregnancy – let every expectant mother answer this for herself after learning about the potential consequences of this harmful habit. In the later stages of pregnancy, consuming alcoholic beverages with a probability exceeding 50% can cause:

• delays in intrauterine development;
• cardiovascular system defects;
• absence of fingers, hypoplasia;
• craniofacial anomalies – formation of narrow eyes, low forehead;
• defects in anus formation, urinary system;
• abnormal development of upper and lower limbs;
• joint dysplasia;
• abnormalities in the development of the nail plate.

The constant consumption of alcohol during pregnancy can lead to the development of embryofetopathy in the fetus. All these severe defects are possible because alcohol during pregnancy is absorbed into the blood of the developing fetus, easily crossing the placental barrier.

Impact on the Embryo and Child Development

The negative impact of alcohol on pregnancy can cause irreparable harm to the baby’s health not only during the formation of its body but can also manifest as serious complications after birth. For example, consuming alcoholic beverages can be fraught with the following for the newborn:

• facial deformities, the manifestation of physical development defects;
• behavioral abnormalities;
• defects in thinking and speech, the presence of low muscle tone and immunity;
• serious coordination and concentration impairments, resulting in the child’s future difficulties with memorization and learning.

Additionally, alcohol consumption during pregnancy can result in the absence or improper development of compensatory mechanisms and disruption of children’s adaptation processes. The negative effects of alcohol consumption may not appear immediately, often becoming evident later, such as during adolescence.

What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

The most severe consequence of a future mother drinking alcohol during pregnancy can be Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. This diagnosis is characterized by the presence of various abnormalities in the child. These pathologies are the result of the fetus’s exposure to substances containing ethanol. 

The embryo does not have sufficient protection to withstand such exposure, leading to the following abnormalities:

• Significantly smaller fetal parameters before birth, as well as after birth. Subsequently, a child with this syndrome usually lags behind peers in height and weight.
• Improper formation of brain endings or mental abnormalities.
• Facial and body defects, the flaws may be related to both the muscular and skeletal system.

Will not allow mistakes in the presence of alcohol syndrome: ‘cleft lip,’ ‘harelip,’ flat broad nose bridge, small eye fissure, coordination deterioration after birth.

Ways alcohol affects and possible consequences

To understand why alcohol is prohibited during pregnancy, it is important to grasp the mechanism of how alcoholic beverages affect the development and condition of the growing embryo. Both the alcohol itself, present in such drinks, and its breakdown products, such as acetaldehyde, have a damaging effect on the fetus. Ethanol causes spasm of the umbilical cord and placental vessels, impairing the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the fetus. 

Acetaldehyde negatively affects the embryonic cells, leading to genetic material damage, which later becomes the cause of various deformities. 

The alcohol contained in beverages disrupts the metabolism of vitamins and hormones in the organs and tissues of the fetus. The central nervous system is especially susceptible to its impact, subsequently leading to behavioral and intellectual deviations in the child, which may manifest at different ages.

Acceptable Alcohol Doses During Pregnancy

Ladies who are accustomed to traditionally consuming alcohol with lunch or dinner on a regular basis often wonder why it must be avoided during pregnancy. Typically, they do not believe in the necessity of complete abstinence and ask their doctor how much alcohol can be consumed during pregnancy over a certain period. Without a doubt, the response from responsible and qualified professionals is always the same – none at all. Because when a pregnant woman drinks, her child drinks too.

Undoubtedly, the course of behavior during pregnancy is determined by the woman herself – the doctor can only give strong recommendations. It’s up to her how to view the myth that it’s quite acceptable to consume a couple of glasses of wine or champagne a week. However, specialists are categorical – this has nothing to do with real life because these drinks contain alcohol and should be banned.

Is it possible to drink regular and non-alcoholic beer

Women who are deciding what alcoholic beverages and in what quantities of alcohol are permissible during pregnancy often choose beer. It is a popular drink considered less dangerous due to its low alcohol content. However, during pregnancy, beer poses no less a risk compared to other alcoholic beverages. Consuming even low-alcohol drinks can lead to the birth of a baby with brain abnormalities, kidney failure, and vascular pathologies. 

Alcohol, in any amount, passes through the placenta to the embryo, affecting the tissues, organs, and nervous system of the future child. This fully applies to non-alcoholic beer as well. It is harmful to the health of the future baby, despite not containing alcohol in its composition. The taste of regular beer in non-alcoholic beer is achieved by adding large quantities of dyes, special additives, and preservatives, which are carcinogens.

Alternatives to Alcohol

Upon receiving a definite ‘no’ to the question of whether alcohol is allowed during pregnancy, women who are used to relaxing and relieving stress with a glass of wine or beer before conception should, during pregnancy, replace this habit with activities such as listening to calm music, taking a warm bath, massage, light exercise, or even sex. Your favorite alcohol during pregnancy should be replaced with non-alcoholic beverages.

For example, you can replace a “Bloody Mary” with the health-friendly “Virgin Mary” cocktail (tomato juice with celery). A great substitute for champagne could be sparkling fruit juice from a siphon. Opt for a non-alcoholic mojito instead of the alcoholic one. It is worth enlisting the support of your husband and close relatives on the path to sobriety. However, if these measures do not help to reduce the craving for alcohol, seeking assistance from a psychotherapist might be a solution.