How Does Alchool Cause Health Issues In Unborn Babies

The science behind FAS is quite simple; as it is known that alcohol has a damaging effect on the body, it has similar consequences on the fetus. Since the fetus is constantly developing, the alcohol causes more serious defects to the unborn child. Alcohol exposure to a fetus is known as a teratogen. “Teratogens are substances or conditions that disrupt typical development in offspring as a result of gestational exposure and cause birth defects.” (Wilson & Fraser, 1977). Although the exposure to alcohol causes problems in the fetus, studies have shown that it may not accurately be the alcohol in the mother’s system that causes these defects, rather the byproducts that form when the body metabolizes the alcohol. This can lead to a decrease in brain cells, abnormal location of neurons, and gross malformation to the brain. Since alcohol causes this central nervous system damage, it is classified as a neurobehavioral teratogen, which is a group of teratogens that cause brain damage and modify behaviors. (Riley & Vorhees, 1986). The CNS damage is the primary defect due to alcohol and it is quite common to have these damages without any physical abnormalities. The more alcohol that is consumed the more birth defects that will arise in the

The quality of life for these children is unfortunately not the best. They can have limb, facial, and organ defects, and will have stunted physical growth throughout young adult life. Prenatal exposure can also have a negative effect on motor skills, especially fine motor tasks such as writing and balancing. The disabilities depend on the mother and her drinking habits. The children of heavy drinkers while pregnant, have many more developmental problems than of those whose mother was a light drinker. The most common problems among these children with alcohol exposure are with balance, coordination, and how they are able to play and handle a ball.

Since FAS is such a prevalent problem, researchers have had to come up with different way to try and help prevent it. The most prominent solution to FAS is making the people aware of the consequences of drinking while pregnant (Hankin). Most people do not think about how drinking does not affect just them or they just simply don’t care. Even though most people are aware that they are not suppose to drink while pregnant it is crucial that warning signs are put up and labels are put on all alcoholic products (Hankin). This will hopefully make those that are drinking conscious of their decisions and have no excuses for their action. Because most people

National surveys show that about six out of every ten women of child-bearing age 18-44 years old use alcohol, and slightly less than one-third of women who drink alcohol in this age group binge drink. Excessive exposure to alcohol during pregnancy can inflict serious, permanent physical and mental damage on her child like Fetal Alcohol Spectrum disorders (FASDS), Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), miscarriage, and premature birth. Although men are more likely to drink alcohol, and drink in larger amounts, gender differences in body structure and chemistry cause women to absorb more alcohol, and take longer to break it down and remove it from their bodies. Upon drinking equal amounts, women have higher alcohol levels in their blood than men, and

The fetus is not the only one harmed by alcohol consumption during pregnancy, but the mother is as well. In fact, many doctors urge women who think they are pregnant or are trying to get pregnant to stop drinking (“Fetal Alcohol”). “One percent of all mothers consume fourteen or more drinks per week during the three months before pregnancy” (Walsh 3). To the average person one percent is not too large of a proportion. However, the volume of alcohol consumed is high during

The amount of alcohol that is safe for a mother to drink during her pregnancy hasn’t yet been determined, therefore the twenty-first century authorities say no alcohol should be consumed (Rank, J.). Alcohol is easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract to the blood stream and circulates to the fetus by crossing the placenta. The placental blood flow to the fetus is weakened from ethanol by constricting blood vessels. This includes hypoxia and fetal malnutrition. The fetus metabolizes the alcohol slower than an adult, causing your developing baby’s blood alcohol concentrations to be higher than those in your body. This causes problems with the ability to the fetus to receive oxygen and nourishment for normal cell development in the brain and other organs. The damage that is done to the baby depends on the gestational period, dosage, and chronicity of abuse. (Mayo Clinic Staff 3, Rank J., Fetal Alcohol Syndrome). The women that do drink when pregnant can cause problems by the amount of alcohol that they consume. For a woman to drink a large amount of alcohol at one time is more dangerous than if she were to drink little amounts several times (Rank, J.).

Fetal alcohol syndrome is caused by chronic alcohol use during pregnancy, but even occasional or binge drinking can result in birth defects (FAE and ARND). When mothers drink alcohol, the fetus receives a high concentration of alcohol, because alcohol can easily pass through the placenta, and fetuses can’t handle it as well as adults can. The worst problems are caused when mothers drink during the first trimester, because that is when most of the baby’s brain development occurs. However, there are still some developments during the second and third trimesters, so drinking even just an average amount of alcohol at any time can cause damage to the

Would you have ever thought of physically, mentally, and/or emotionally harming an unborn child? In the 1990s people have noted the significant impact alcohol-related birth defects are having on our society then and now. My essay will discuss alcohol consumption among pregnant women and its adverse effects on fetal development. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or FAS is physical and mental health problem that destroys a child's learning development. Women risk their unborn children when they consume alcohol during pregnancy and puts their children at risk for multiple constellations of abnormalities when they are born. Which also hinders babies from reaching their full potential in life.

Based on the data of Samuels and other medical researchers, it becomes clear that less than 0.1% of all birth defects are related to alcohol, and that more than 90% of the affected children are born to women with a history of alcohol

There are many causes to drinking while pregnant. One of those causes of drinking while pregnant are that the mother would have a miscarriage because alcohol is a teratogen that harms the fetus. Drinking while pregnant can harm the fetus most if it’s 3 months or smaller

Well according to National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism there are many thing that can go wrong with your body while do alcohol and pregnant but one of the issues is that it can effect or brain with communication, your mood, behavior and your movement coordination. Not only can alcohol effect your brain but, it can also affect your heart by making your heart muscles droopy which can cause a potential heart attack (National Institute of Alcohol abuse and Alcoholism). Third alcohol can also mess up r liver which is very important because it helps you live but, alcohol can effect it by making fat on your liver, and all these different types of diseases (National Institute of Alcohol abuse and Alcoholism). Therefor alcohol is very dangerous because it can also affect your pancreas and that is a very important organ and alcohol can cause it to swell and make very little blood vessels (National Institute of Alcohol abuse and Alcoholism). These things are very important to consider while being pregnant not only do you hurt the baby but you also can hurt your own body which is not only causing physical and emotional problems for the baby but also those problems for the mother. So should you look at the effects for not only for the baby but, also for yourself as a

Alcohol is used is commonly used an integral part of many social gatherings and often accompanies many meals and is for the most part culturally sanctioned. Moderate use of alcohol is believed to have some positive qualities such as prolonging one’s life, reducing the risk of dementia, and provides some cardiovascular benefits (Lehne, 2013; Robbins & Cotran 2012). However, alcohol use during pregnancy in this day in age has been considered a taboo. Many women even have different views on drinking alcohol while being

Fetal alcohol syndrome is a condition marked by hyperactivity, impulsiveness, difficult maintaining attention, varying degrees of mental retardation, motor problems, heart defects, and facial abnormalities (Kalat p.124). The alcohol passes through the placenta and goes right to the developing baby. Whether it is wine, beer, mixed drinks, or hard liquor the fetus will be exposed to it. Borus and Tomlinso stated that “according to the U.S. centers for disease control and prevention almost all children with fetal alcohol syndrome will have mental health probems as adults and 82 percent will not live independently” (2014). Kalat found that drinking during pregnancy leads to thinning of the cerebral cortex that persists to adulthood (Zhou et al., 2011). Fetal alcohol syndrome affects 1 in every 100 births a year, approximately 50,000 infants a year. Drinking while pregnant can hinder the baby’s possibility of having a normal life. Fetal alcohol syndrome is a disease that is incurable but also

Some of the secondary disabilities included mental illness, anti-social behaviors, and attention deficit disorders including, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. According to the study it was concluded that children of binge drinking mothers exhibited especially severe cognitive and behavioral deficits. Although, some of the studies reviewed had vague definitions of binge drinking, potential recall and reporting biases. As you can see here binge drinking while pregnant is not only not healthy to the developing fetus, but it will cause many developmental problems for the future.

As a mother, health is an important part of carrying a child. Even before conceiving a child, “drinking can definitely affect fertility, increasing the length of time it takes to get pregnant and reducing the chances of having a healthy baby” (Alcohol and Fertility). With that being said, alcohol can impact a child’s life before he/she is conceived. The effects on fertility of alcohol have been proven countless times, however, the amount of alcohol it takes to decelerate the production of reproductive hormones has not been officially recorded. Every female has a different body, so it’s not easy for scientists to say how much alcohol is too much for everyone. Therefore, it is best to abstain from alcohol use completely