No alcohol is Safe If a Woman May Become Pregnant

Native News Network Staff in Native Health. Discussion »

ATLANTA – Alcohol and pregnancy don't mix, but some women do it. More than half of women aged 18 to 44 reported using alcohol in the past 30 days, including almost 8 percent of pregnant women. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, concluded after it looked at national data from 2006 to 2010.

Alcohol and pregnancy A Range of Lifelong Disorders

CDC researcher Claire Marchetta says alcohol use during pregnancy can cause permanent problems for the baby;

“These can include physical problems, such as delayed growth or problems with the heart, kidneys or bones. And it can also lead to learning and behavior problems, such as lower IQ and hyperactivity.”

No alcohol is safe if a woman may become pregnant.

Why Alcohol is Dangerous

When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, so does her unborn baby. Alcohol in the mother's blood passes through the placenta to the baby through the umbilical cord. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and a range of lifelong disorders, known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). The CDC reports Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders might have the following characteristics and behaviors:

Abnormal facial features, such as a smooth ridge between the nose and upper lip (this ridge is called the philtrum)
Small head size
Shorter than average height
Low body weight
Poor coordination
Hyperactive behavior
Difficulty paying attention
Poor memory
Difficulty in school (especially with math)
Learning disabilities
Speech and language delays
Intellectual disability or low IQ
Poor reasoning and judgment skills
Sleep and sucking problems as a baby
Vision or hearing problems
Problems with the heart, kidney, or bones