Can alcohol kill a fetus

Pregnancy and Alcohol | Southern Health & Social Care Trust

Congratulations, you’re pregnant! It is important to realise that everything you eat and drink influences your baby’s development, and that includes alcohol and recreational drug use.

This section offers you some tools and information to help you consider the risk of alcohol consumption in pregnancy and decide what’s best for you and your baby.

Assessing your alcohol intake

Use this QUICK TEST to assess your alcohol use and the impact on your health and your baby. Complete the alcohol MOT questionnaire to check if your alcohol intake is putting your health at risk. Alternatively complete the ALCOHOL AUDIT on the Alcohol and You website

If your MOT/ Audit score is high and you want advice on the impact of alcohol on your health contact your GP/Health Care Professional. Or find out about TREATMENT SERVICES AVAILABLE within the Southern Trust.

Is there a safe time to drink alcohol during pregnancy?

There is no safe time to drink alcohol during pregnancy. Your baby’s Central Nervous System, brain, major organs and limbs are developing throughout pregnancy. In the first trimester (12 weeks) the baby’s developing brain is most vulnerable to the damaging effects of alcohol. No alcohol is always the safest and best choice for your unborn baby. A safe alternative are MOCKTAILS.

Binge drinking and heavy drinking are very harmful to the unborn child. Heavy alcohol use can lead to impaired brain development. This could result in restricted growth and facial abnormalities, as well as lifelong learning and behavioural problems in your baby. Otherwise known as FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME (FAS). Regular ongoing drinking in pregnancy can lead to lesser forms of FAS known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

What happens to my baby when I drink alcohol?

Alcohol can act as a poison and too much exposure to alcohol can seriously affect the baby’s development.

In early pregnancy the baby’s brain and major organs including its liver and kidneys are developing. When you drink alcohol it reaches the baby through the placenta. This means when you drink, your baby drinks. But the baby’s body cannot process alcohol as fast as yours can, due to a lack of an effective blood filtration system and an under developed liver. A baby’s liver is one of the last organs to develop and does not mature until the latter half of pregnancy. The baby is therefore is exposed to greater amounts of alcohol for longer than you are.

Your baby’s developing brain can be damaged by alcohol. Alcohol can have a toxic effect on the fetus, especially in the brain where it kills cells. Developing cells and organs can also be affected. Think about it: would you give alcohol to your toddler whose brain is more developed than your unborn? Then why would you give alcohol to your baby? All mums want what’s best for their children.

Is there a safe amount of alcohol I can drink?

Department of Health (DoH) Alcohol in Pregnancy Guidelines state:

If you are pregnant or think you could become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all, to keep risks to your baby to a minimum.
Drinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to the baby, with the more you drink the greater the risk.

The risk of harm to the baby is likely to be low if you have drunk only small amounts of alcohol before you knew you were pregnant or during pregnancy.

If you find out you are pregnant after you have drunk alcohol during early pregnancy, you should avoid further drinking. You should be aware that it is unlikely in most cases that your baby has been affected. If you are worried about alcohol use during pregnancy do talk to your doctor or midwife.

What can I do if I find it hard to give up alcohol?

If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant and find it difficult to give up alcohol, be assured you are not alone. Pregnant women and women trying to conceive should avoid alcohol altogether. Ask your midwife, health visitor or GP or someone you trust for help. For further information visit www.alcoholandyouni.com/if-you-take-it-i-take-it-brief-advice-tool/

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust provide a Substance Liaison Midwifery Service which is an easily accessible and friendly service which promotes a positive pregnancy and birth experience for woman who are concerned regarding their use of substances during pregnancy. The Substance Liaison Midwife can be contacted at Mobile 077 8533 2988 or Tel: (028) 3756 1330.

How will drinking while breastfeeding affect my baby?

Breastfeeding gives your baby the best possible start in life and it has lots of benefits for a mother and her baby. Breastfeeding also helps mothers build a bond with their baby both physically and emotionally.

Alcohol passes freely into breastmilk and also affects its taste. Moderate to heavy alcohol consumption can cause harm to the breastfeeding baby, making a baby sleepy, drowsy and lead to slow weight gain. Alcohol consumption when breastfeeding can also affect a mother and baby’s ability to breastfeed. Guidance surrounding alcohol intake and breastfeeding can be found at www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/

Impact of substances on you

As well as being a time of joy and excitement, the first few months after giving birth can also be difficult and demanding. Sleep deprivation, endless feeding and changing routines, emotional ups and downs, can leave you feeling tired and drained. But heavy drinking will leave you feeling a whole lot worse. Although it may help you feel more relaxed at first, drinking too much at this time will make you more irritable and low. This will make it harder to cope with the constant attention that your baby needs.

Find out more about drug and alcohol treatment and support services available across Northern Ireland

Alcohol and pregnancy: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

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Pregnant women are strongly urged not to drink alcohol during pregnancy.

Drinking alcohol while pregnant has been shown to cause harm to a baby as it develops in the womb. Alcohol used during pregnancy may also lead to long-term medical problems and birth defects.

When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, the alcohol travels through her blood and into the baby's blood, tissues, and organs. Alcohol breaks down much more slowly in the baby's body than in an adult. That means the baby's blood alcohol level remains increased longer than the mother's. This can harm the baby and can sometimes lead to lifelong damage.

DANGERS OF ALCOHOL DURING PREGNANCY

Drinking a lot of alcohol during pregnancy can lead to a group of defects in the baby known as fetal alcohol syndrome. Symptoms can include:

Behavior and attention problems
Heart defects
Changes in the shape of the face
Poor growth before and after birth
Poor muscle tone and problems with movement and balance
Problems with thinking and speech
Learning problems

These medical problems are lifelong and can range from mild to severe.

Complications seen in the infant may include:

Cerebral palsy
Premature delivery
Pregnancy loss or stillbirth

HOW MUCH ALCOHOL IS SAFE?

There is no known "safe" amount of alcohol use during pregnancy. Alcohol use appears to be the most harmful during the first 3 months of pregnancy; however, drinking alcohol anytime during pregnancy can be harmful.

Alcohol includes beer, wine, wine coolers, and liquor.

One drink is defined as:

12 oz of beer
5 oz of wine
1.5 oz of liquor

How much you drink is just as important as how often you drink.

Even if you don't drink often, drinking a large amount at one time can harm the baby.
Binge drinking (5 or more drinks on one sitting) greatly increases a baby's risk of developing alcohol-related damage.
Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol when pregnant may lead to miscarriage.
Heavy drinkers (those who drink more than 2 alcoholic beverages a day) are at greater risk of giving birth to a child with fetal alcohol syndrome.
The more you drink, the more you raise your baby's risk for harm.

DO NOT DRINK DURING PREGNANCY

Women who are pregnant or who are trying to get pregnant should avoid drinking any amount of alcohol. The only way to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome is to not drink alcohol during pregnancy.

If you did not know you were pregnant and drank alcohol, stop drinking as soon as you learn you are pregnant. The sooner you stop drinking alcohol, the healthier your baby will be.

Choose nonalcoholic versions of beverages you like.

If you cannot control your drinking, avoid being around other people who are using alcohol.

Pregnant women with alcoholism should join an alcohol abuse rehabilitation program. They should also be followed closely by a health care provider.

The following organization may be of help:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration -- 1-800-662-4357 www.findtreatment.gov
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism -- www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/about.aspx

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy; Fetal alcohol syndrome - pregnancy; FAS - fetal alcohol syndrome; Fetal alcohol effects; Alcohol in pregnancy; Alcohol related birth defects; Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

Prasad MR, Jones HE. Substance abuse in pregnancy. In: Resnik R, Lockwood CJ, Moore TR, Greene MF, Copel JA, Silver RM, eds. Creasy and Resnik's Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 68.

Prasad M, Metz TD. Substance use disorder in pregnancy. In: Landon MB, Galan HL, Jauniaux ERM, et al, eds. Gabbe's Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 8.

Wallen LD, Gleason CA. Prenatal drug exposure. In: Gleason CA, Juul SE, eds. Avery's Diseases of the Newborn. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 13.

Updated by: John D. Jacobson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What happens to the child if the mother drinks alcohol?

03. 12.2019

Alcohol and pregnancy are incompatible - doctors do not get tired of talking about this to expectant mothers. But pregnant women sometimes allow themselves to skip a glass of wine, thinking that nothing bad will come of such an amount. However, alcohol can interfere with fetal development at any stage of pregnancy, even very early.

Studies show that excessive (four or more drinks at a time) and/or regular drinking by an expectant mother puts the fetus at the greatest risk of serious problems. But even a smaller amount of alcohol can be harmful, since there is no safe dose. nine0003

Alcohol easily passes from the mother's bloodstream into the child's bloodstream, which can affect the development of the brain and other vital organs, structures and physiological systems of the baby's body, leading to malformations that can begin in a child in early childhood and last a lifetime. The most profound effects of prenatal alcohol exposure are brain damage and associated behavioral and cognitive impairment.

Scientists define a wide range of effects and symptoms caused by prenatal alcohol exposure, termed "fetal alcohol spectrum disorders". These include conditions such as intrauterine alcohol syndrome, alcohol-related nervous system disorder, and alcohol-associated birth defects. All these cases have one common feature - damage to the central nervous system (CNS) as a result of prenatal alcohol exposure to the fetus. nine0003

The effect of alcohol on the CNS may be structural (eg, reduction in brain size, changes in certain areas of the brain) or functional (eg, cognitive and behavioral deficits, motor and coordination problems). Extended studies using modern imaging techniques (MRI, CT, etc.) have revealed differences in the structure and activity of the brain that are consistent with neuropsychological testing data, including a disorder in processing information from the senses, changes in cognitive processes and behavior in adults with the disorder alcohol spectrum of the fetus compared to healthy people. nine0003

The most profound effects of prenatal alcohol exposure are brain damage and associated impairments in behavioral and cognitive functioning.

How are the disorders different?

Fetal alcohol syndrome was the first form of alcohol spectrum disorder and is still the most well-known syndrome. It manifests itself with excessive alcohol consumption by the expectant mother during the first trimester of pregnancy. The impact of harmful substances on the fetus can disrupt the normal development of not only the brain, but also the face. Thus, in addition to CNS developmental anomalies, the child will have a specific pattern of three facial anomalies: narrow eye openings, a smooth area between the lip and nose (compared to a normal ridge), and a thin upper lip. Also, the baby may experience growth deficiency in utero and (or) after birth. nine0003

Partial fetal alcohol syndrome includes only some of the characteristics listed above.

An alcohol-related disorder of the nervous system is characterized by disorders of the central nervous system, which may be structural or functional. Functional impairments include a complex pattern of cognitive (mental) or behavioral problems that do not correspond to the standard level of development at any given age in a child. At the same time, the reasons for this discrepancy cannot be explained by factors other than prenatal alcohol exposure. Facial abnormalities and growth retardation should not be present. nine0003

Alcohol-related birth defects include heart, kidney, bone, and other malformations; difficulties with vision and hearing; decreased function of the immune system. They are rarely considered separately, but rather are a secondary disorder that accompanies other fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

What will happen to the baby in the future?

Every person whose mother may have abused alcohol during pregnancy experiences a combination of everyday turmoil that includes medical, behavioral, educational, or social problems in the following areas: nine0003

learning and memorization;
understanding and following directions;
ability to keep attention;
the ability to control emotions;
communication and socialization;
performing daily life skills (eg, eating, bathing, counting money, taking care of personal safety).

People with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder are more likely than others to make bad decisions, repeat the same mistakes, trust the wrong people, and have difficulty understanding the consequences of their actions. They are also more prone to disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, impulse control problems, alcoholism and drug addiction. nine0003

People with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder are more likely than others to make bad decisions, repeat the same mistakes, trust the wrong people, and have difficulty understanding the consequences of their actions.

Risk factors

Of course, it is impossible to argue that just one sip of champagne during pregnancy can provoke many anomalies in the development of the fetus and affect the psyche of the unborn child. But the medical community recommends completely avoiding any dose of alcohol during pregnancy. nine0003

There are risk factors that contribute to the development of undesirable consequences:

the amount of alcohol a pregnant woman drinks at a time;
frequency of drinking by a pregnant woman;
the stage of pregnancy at which a woman drinks alcohol, and how much she drinks during the formation of one or another body system in the fetus.

Prenatal alcohol exposure to children can be exacerbated if their mothers are malnourished, overweight, underweight, or smoke…
In addition, studies show that prenatal alcohol exposure affects children more if their mothers live in unfavorable conditions and experience high levels of stress. These may include, for example, social isolation, living in a society where excessive drinking is common and acceptable, and living in a society where resources for prenatal care are limited.

The prenatal effects of alcohol on children can be exacerbated if their mothers are malnourished, overweight, underweight, smoke… nine0003

How to help a child?

First aid for a child is the refusal of the expectant mother from alcohol. But if during pregnancy a woman allowed herself to drink alcohol and the child has symptoms of a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, special tactics of education and training should be applied. For example, a school may want to use specialized learning strategies that provide a consistent routine and allow children to continually practice learning skills. This will allow students to study better, remember lessons faster and keep up with the class. nine0003

First aid for a child is the refusal of the expectant mother from alcohol.

Other ways to help include family support groups and classes to help parents take better care of their baby, prenatal and postpartum supplements for their babies, mental health interventions for children that include social skills training, problem solving, and personal safety.

Of course, all these measures can be taken by specialists. You should not take dietary supplements and medications unless prescribed by a doctor. nine0003

A child whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy may develop both physiological and mental disorders, which will affect his life. A woman's refusal to drink alcohol will help her child grow up healthy and happy.

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy alters the DNA of the embryo

January 16, 2010, 13:12 Science

Alcohol consumed by a woman during pregnancy is not only harmful to her health. Ethyl alcohol disrupts the function of the DNA genes of the embryo, destroying the vital activity of the organism forever. nine0003

“Alcohol is contraindicated for pregnant women, drivers behind the wheel, persons working with complex devices and mechanisms, persons under 18 years of age,” we read on the labels of alcohol bottles. The phrase seems to be routine, and we are not always fully aware of the health risks that drinking carries. First of all, this concerns pregnant women, who are responsible not only for their own health, but also for the health of their unborn child.

All evil from women from Europe

The PKNOX2 gene is especially active in women of European descent and contributes to increased use of them. ..

02 September 14:18

Meanwhile, the influence exerted by alcohol on the organism developing in the womb of a woman is much more serious and dangerous than the harm to her own health.

A study published in Genetics shows that alcohol chemically modifies embryonic DNA by altering the mechanism of gene expression.

Gene expression

the process in which hereditary information from a gene (a sequence of DNA nucleotides) is converted into a functional product - RNA or protein. Gene expression can be regulated at all stages of the process: and during transcription...

Drinking women often give birth to children with fetal alcohol syndrome. This disease of the fetus, caused by intrauterine alcohol damage, is characterized by specific anomalies of the face, retardation in physical and mental development, behavioral abnormalities, damage to the heart and other organs. This phenomenon is fairly well known, but its molecular mechanism has not yet been studied in detail. nine0003

Previous research has suggested that alcohol (as a maternal environmental condition) may induce epigenetic changes in fetal DNA. They occur without modification of the genetic code itself, however, they are able to “turn on / off” some genes or increase or decrease their expression.

To study how alcohol affects gene expression, Australian geneticists used mice with different coat colors. The fur color of these mice, brown or yellowish, changes precisely under the influence of epigenetic environmental factors. nine0003

Women get drunk faster

The problem, traditionally considered more male, has changed gender. As shown by more than ten years...

February 26 17:44

Thus, in the case of these mice, it is very easy to understand whether altered environmental conditions affect gene expression: this can be seen simply by the color of the animal's coat.

Scientists crossed female mice with two copies of the gene responsible for yellow fur with male mice with brown genes. In this case, the birth of offspring with variegated fur is most likely (67%), but mice with yellow or brown fur are also possible (approximately 16% each). This ratio should be maintained if environmental conditions do not affect gene expression. nine0003

The pregnant mice were then given alcohol instead of water. They were not restricted from drinking during the first half of their pregnancy, and their blood alcohol level was 0.12%. This content per person is one and a half times the blood alcohol limit allowed for driving (in the UK - 80 mg per 100 ml of blood).

As a result, the number of brown mice among the newborn offspring was twice as high as expected. Thus, the effect of alcohol on gene expression in mice was proven - it is able to “turn on” and “turn off” them. However, the coat color gene cannot be transferred to humans, so drawing parallels here is not entirely correct. nine0003

Calmed down and immediately drank

The gene that stimulates the production of the body's resistance to stress hormone, when modified, can increase . ..

August 18 14:43

The next stage of the study was the study of DNA in the liver cells of newborn mice. It turned out that 15 genes of "children of alcohol" worked differently than in ordinary mice: their activity changed. It was not possible to find out what exactly the “altered” genes are responsible for, but it can be said for sure that the effect of alcohol on mice is not limited to coat color genes, but extends to the entire body. Most likely, the same mechanism operates on human embryos. nine0003

"Alcoholic" offspring of mice, in addition, showed some signs of fetal alcohol syndrome, in particular reduced body weight and reduced skull.

In the future, geneticists plan to find out whether changes in the functioning of genes caused by alcohol are stable and whether they can be inherited. In addition, they hope to find stronger arguments for the genetic nature of fetal alcohol syndrome. If it is possible to find out which genes alcohol disrupts, testing for the presence of the syndrome can be carried out in newborn babies. Such patients will be able to get more opportunities for existence in society if they find themselves under the social protection of special programs from early childhood, according to Western experts. nine0003

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