How Much Drinking Causes Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?
Most pregnant women who want to be pregnant worry about their babies. They worry if they’re doing everything correctly and ensuring their prenatal health is as good as possible. They worry about their birth plan, about the ways that their bodies will change, and how their lives will be affected once they give birth. Many also worry if their diets will affect fetal growth. But there is one thing that can affect a fetus’ development, and that’s alcohol exposure.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, around 1 in 20 school-aged children in the United States may have fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). This number is not exact as it’s not known how many children have fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
As such, being able to quit drinking during pregnancy is vital for fetal health. But quitting isn’t so easy for a lot of people. At Twilight Recovery, we offer numerous interventions to help people stop drinking alcohol.
How Much Alcohol Exposure Causes Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?
The exact amount of alcohol exposure that causes Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) varies and is not precisely known, as it can be influenced by various factors, including genetics, timing of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, and the individual drinkers themselves.
However, it is well-established that no amount of prenatal alcohol exposure is considered safe during pregnancy. Even moderate or occasional drinking can increase the risk of FAS and other Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs).
Studies suggest that binge drinking, which is when someone consumes four or more drinks at a time, is particularly harmful.
The safest approach is complete abstinence from alcohol during pregnancy to avoid any risk of harm to the developing fetus. Public health guidelines strongly advise pregnant women or those planning to become pregnant to avoid alcohol entirely to ensure their health and positive outcomes for their pregnancies.
What is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder?
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a range of conditions that are associated with prenatal alcohol exposure, causing lifelong physical, behavioral, and cognitive impairments.
The disorder encompasses several diagnosable conditions, including the aforementioned FAS, Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS), Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND), and Alcohol-Related Birth Defects (ARBD).
Symptoms can vary widely but often include distinctive facial features, growth deficiencies, and central nervous system abnormalities, leading to intellectual disabilities, learning challenges, and behavioral issues.
FASD is caused by alcohol crossing the placenta and affecting fetal development, particularly the brain, which can happen when a woman engages in alcohol use during pregnancy.
There is no cure, but early intervention and supportive care, such as speech therapy, special education programs, and behavioral interventions, can improve outcomes and enhance the quality of life for affected children and their families.
Prevention is entirely possible by abstaining from alcohol during pregnancy, making awareness and education crucial for reducing the incidence of FASD.
How Does FAS Affect a Child’s Life?
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome can significantly impact a child’s life, causing a range of lifelong physical, cognitive, and behavioral challenges.
Physically, a child with FAS may have distinct facial abnormalities, growth deficiencies, and organ defects. Cognitively, they often face learning disabilities, poor memory, attention deficits, and intellectual disabilities, making academic achievement difficult.
Children with FAS may be hyperactive, have trouble controlling their impulses, have diminished social skills, and have difficulty understanding consequences.
These issues can lead to difficulties in school, trouble forming and maintaining relationships, and challenges in everyday tasks. Additionally, the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding FAS can result in social isolation and emotional difficulties.
Interventions, such as specialized education programs, behavioral therapy, and medical care, are essential to help children with FAS manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. Regardless of the challenges they face, with the right support, children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome can achieve their potential and lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
Can Any Amount of Alcohol Use Cause FAS?
Any amount of alcohol during pregnancy can potentially cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or other Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. There is no known safe amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, as even small amounts can pose risks.
The severity of the effects can vary based on factors such as the timing of alcohol exposure, the frequency and quantity consumed, and individual differences in metabolism and genetics, but any amount of alcohol use while pregnant can result in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.
Why Would Someone Drink During Pregnancy?
There are three reasons why a woman would consume alcohol while pregnant. The first reason is that a woman doesn’t know they’re pregnant. Many women don’t even suspect that they’re pregnant until after they notice that their menstrual cycle is off, and even then, slight variations from one cycle to the next are common.
Another reason why a woman may drink while pregnant is that they think the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome or other disorders is overblown. They tell themselves that one glass of wine isn’t going to harm the baby, so they have their drink.
Alcoholism, also known as alcohol use disorder, is another reason that a woman may drink alcohol while she’s pregnant by being addicted to alcohol. Pregnancy can affect a woman’s physical and mental health in a myriad of ways, but if a woman is an alcoholic, she’s going to want to drink.
The problem with addiction is that addicts don’t often think about the consequences of their substance use. They may be cognitively aware of the consequences, but the compulsion to satiate their addictions will take priority over everything else.
A woman who is an alcoholic is not going to stop drinking regardless of whether or not they’re pregnant. So they’re going to continue drinking despite the consequences to themselves or the fetus.
Alternatives to Drinking Alcohol During Pregnancy
Because it’s not safe to drink any amount of alcohol while pregnant, some things can help scratch the itch of drinking alcohol without exposing a fetus to alcohol.
An obvious alternative is to drink non-alcoholic versions of the drinks you’d normally drink anyway, such as alcohol-free beer or wine. A person can sip on mocktails without any amount of alcohol consumed.
People can also distract themselves from their alcohol cravings by engaging in other activities, like new hobbies or getting ready for life after giving birth, like decorating a nursery or reading parenting books.
We’ll Help You With Your Alcohol Consumption
For many expectant mothers, the safety of their fetuses is their highest priority. Most pregnant American women plan to get pregnant, and they plan on carrying the baby to term and giving birth to healthy babies.
However, maternal alcohol exposure can affect fetal growth, so women need to stop drinking if they’re pregnant. It’s also recommended that they stop drinking when trying to get pregnant.
At Twilight Recovery, we offer personalized programs to help people stop drinking. Contact us now, and we can help you stop drinking.