by Lacey Simmons

Created on: September 18, 2008

If you're having a drink your unborn child is too. There is no safe amount of
alcohol for an unborn child. Some studies may show a small amount is okay,
But that isn't always the case. Your baby's life is more important than any alcohol
consumption. Alcohol is a mother's blood crossed the placenta freely and enters the fetus through the umbilical cord.
The use of alcohol during pregnancy interferes with the baby's ability to get enough oxygen and nourishment for normal cell development in the brain and other organs.

Some children exposed will develop fetal alcohol syndrome.
Fetal alcohol syndrome is a pattern of mental and physical defects which some unborn babies develop after being exposed to alcohol in the womb. When born the child could have a small body size and low birth weight.
Children with fetal alcohol syndrome show slower than normal development and failure to "Catch-up" with peers. Not only can the child have development problems but physical defects as well. These physical defects include deformed ribs and sternum, curved spine, limited movement of joints and facial abnormalities.
Facial abnormalities caused by fetal alcohol syndrome are permanent unless reversed by surgery. These defects include small eye openings, drooping eyelids, and short upturned nose, sunk in nasal bridge, small jaw and poorly formed ears. Some of these particular defects can cause later problems in life depending on their severity and can cause children self-esteem issues.
Amongst other serious problems created by prenatal alcohol consumption include heart defects, heart murmurs, organ deformities, genital malformations, central nervous system handicaps and a small brain. In early infancy constant irritability is often documented from fetal alcohol syndrome. In childhood hyperactivity has often been expressed with many children being put on medication to control it. This in turn may cause dependency on medication for most of their lives.
Out of all of these possibilities the most common documented are brain and spinal cord cell damage. Each year more than 40,000 babies are born with some degree of alcohol related damage. All of these defects are permanent.
A number of factors determine whether or not the child will develop any of these problems. Some of these factors include nutritional status and general well-being of the mother and genetic makeup of the mother and father as well as their families.
Drinking while pregnant can also cause fatalities such as miscarriages and stillbirth. To avoid a fatality or life long perm ant damage remember any amount of alcohol at any time during pregnancy isn't okay. It is best to wait until after the birth of your baby and after you have finished breast feeding because after all your unborn baby is what should matter most.

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