One Reason Why Pregnancy and Alcohol Don't Mix Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can be dangerous to you and your baby. Babies born to mothers who drink during pregnancy may have health problems. One of these problems is called fetal alcohol syndrome.
Fetal alcohol syndrome is a group of problems in children born to mothers who drank alcohol during their pregnancy. These babies are usually small and underweight. They often have birth defects such as delayed development and, as they grow older, they may have behavior problems. The most serious problem is mental retardation.
In the United States, about 1,200 children are born each year with fetal alcohol syndrome. It is the leading cause of mental retardation in this country.
The best thing you can do is stop drinking when you are thinking about getting pregnant. If you get pregnant, quit drinking alcohol and drink other beverages, like water or fruit juices.
Even small amounts of alcohol can be harmful. Because no amount of alcohol can be considered safe, pregnant women should avoid all alcohol during the entire pregnancy. (Drinks with alcohol in them include beer, wine, hard liquor and wine coolers.)
"Binge drinking"--having 5 or more drinks at a time--is particularly dangerous for your baby, because it makes the level of alcohol in your blood very high very quickly. So, even if you don't drink every day, you may put your baby at risk for fetal alcohol syndrome.
Be honest with your doctor. Tell him or her how much you are drinking. Your doctor may be able to help you stop drinking before it hurts your baby.
There is no cure. Children with fetal alcohol syndrome can be helped, though. The treatment involves giving them good medical and dental care, and eyeglasses or hearing aids if these are needed, and placing them in special school programs.
REMEMBER
No amount of alcohol is safe in pregnancy.
If you usually drink, quit while you are trying to get pregnant or if you are pregnant.
If you can't quit drinking by yourself, get help immediately.
familydoctor.org
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