Pregnancy: the Effects of Alcohol and Substance Abuse on Fetal Development

Many women that become pregnant are unaware of the consequences of drinking alcohol during pregnancy and the damaging effects it has on the fetus. When a woman who is pregnant drinks alcohol, the baby is also drinking alcohol. Furthermore, the amount of alcohol that is consumed by the mother is the same amount the baby receives through the mother's placenta. Many doctors advise that it is okay for the mother to have an occasional drink, however, some women cannot stop at one drink, and they continue to drink in excess throughout their pregnancy. Still, even moderate consumption of alcohol is not wise, because it is still unknown how much alcohol the fetus is able to tolerate without potential harm. Consequently, a fetus that has been

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

Substance abuse has been a worldwide problem at all levels of society since the beginning of time. Attention has been made toward the use of legal and illegal substance by pregnant women over the past several decades. Almost all drugs are known to cross the placenta and have some effect on the fetus. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (2013) the first studies of the effect of substances consumed by a pregnant women to the developing fetus were identified in the 1960’s of prenatal tobacco use. These studies opened the door to further research and studies. The effects of Alcohol and opiate use have been studied since the 1970’s (Jones, Smith, 1973) and the effects of a variety of other drugs have been studied since 1979 and early 1980’s (Flinnegan, 1979).

Fetal alcohol syndrome is a collection of multiple effects that happen because of exposure to alcohol in utero and can be a very serious problem that is prevalent. Fetal alcohol syndrome was first talked about and described in 1973 (Caley, Dunlap, Shipkey, Rivera, & Winkelman, 2006). Over the years a lot has become known about the dangers of exposing a fetus to alcohol and how common it really is (Caley et al, 2006). According to Krulewitch (2005), 1 in 10 women will consume alcohol after knowing they have become pregnant. Nurses have a key role in providing care and explaining to the newly pregnant mother the effects of consuming alcohol during pregnancy.

Children are born every second of every day on all different parts of the globe. However, before they are introduced into the world they must develop in a special incubator known as the mother’s womb. Throughout the nine months of growth, it is crucial for the mother to consume certain nutrients and avoid harmful substances. In many countries, one of the cognitive disorders is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). According to Feldman (2009), Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a disorder that is induced by pregnant women who have consumed alcohol during the duration of their pregnancy, possibly resulting in mental deformity and delayed the growth of the child. Some characteristics of FAS include growth deficiency and central nervous system dysfunction

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.

When a woman becomes pregnant, it is recommended that she refrains from drinking alcohol. When a mother drinks, her baby drinks. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2016), once alcohol enters the mother’s bloodstream, it passes to the baby through the umbilical cord (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). Drinking alcoholic beverages while pregnant puts the mother at high risk of having a miscarriage or still born baby. Additionally, consuming alcohol during pregnancy can cause the baby to develop permanent behavioral, physical, and intellectual disabilities. These disabilities are known as Fetal Alcohol

According to the National Library of Medicine (2013), maternal substance abuse is the use of cocaine, heroin, marijuana, nicotine, or alcohol during pregnancy. Cocaine use during pregnancy causes contextual variables, to typical fetal development, as it influences the cardiovascular and autonomic systems of the mother. As discussed by Cone-Wesson (2005), low birth weight and neurological complications, such as stroke and seizures can be a consequence of gestational substance abuse. PCE can cause adverse effects on the fetus’s development such as becoming at risk for delays. These delays include the developmental domains such as language, cognition, and social-emotional skills as stated by

It could have serious effects to the fetus’ development of the body and the brain that lead to a series of physical, cognitive, and behavioral effects. These effects could have negative impact to the fetus development such as heart, blood vessels, bones muscles and the cellular and molecular structures. The most serious consequence to the fetus is a series of symptoms cause by pregnancy alcohol consumption is fetal alcohol syndrome, also known as FAS (Chen). “The criteria for diagnosing FAS include facial dysmorphology, growth retardation, and central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction”

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is caused by fetal exposure to alcohol during pregnancy and is characterized by specific patters of fetal deformities. Researchers are unsure at what stage in the pregnancy these malformations occur or the amount of alcohol consumed to cause these deformities. FAS is the leading cause of mental retardation that is preventable. There are usually three factors pertaining to a diagnosis of FAS: “the presence of prenatal/postnatal growth retardation, craniofacial anomalies, and central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities.” (Pinto & Pravikoff, 2008)Other disorders including fetal alcohol effects (FAE) and alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND), and alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD) may be present

Jacobson et al. (2002) indicated that prenatal exposure to high amounts of alcohol induced several developmental problems as the child grew up. It has been described that alcohol exposure during pregnancy causes several developmental problems in children. Some of these problems include a slower reaction to both visual and auditory stimuli (Mattson, 2006), growth retardation problems (Chasnoff, 2015), and motor impairment (Lucas, 2014). Additionally, Chasnoff observed that children that had been exposed to alcohol during pregnancy presented characteristic morphology defects such as an abnormal measurement of their upper lips and philtrum (Chasnoff, 2015).

There are several hazards and risk with prenatal development. I believe that ‘Drugs’ has a huge impact on prenatal development. Prenatal substance abuse continues to be a significate problem in the country and possess import health risk for the developing fetus.

A recent study from the United Kingdom found that women who use illicit drugs during pregnancy were significantly more likely to deliver preterm (aOR: 1.6, 95% CI, 1.3–2.1) and/or have a low birth weight infant (aOR:1.9, 95%CI, 1.4–2.6) (Black, Bhattacharya, Fairley, Campbell, & Shetty, 2013). Further studies of the effects of independent illicit drugs on pregnancy also found that pregnant women who smoked marijuana were more likely to have a LBW infant (RR:2.6; 95% CI, 1.1-6.2) and/or a SGA infant (RR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.3-4.1) compared to nonusers (Hatch & Bracken, 1986). A systematic review and meta-analysis of cocaine use in pregnancy also found it to be significantly associated with LBW (OR: 3.66; 95% CI, 2.90-4.63) and SGA (OR:3.23; 95% CI, 2.43-4.30) (Gouin, Murphy, Shah, & Knowledge Synthesis group on Determinants of Low Birth Weight and Preterm Births, 2011).

The human brain starts developing well before birth and it continues to do so through the early adult years. The use of toxic substances by a pregnant woman plays an important role in disrupting the development of the fetus’ organs. The seriousness of the damage depends on the type of substance, and how long the fetus was exposed to it, during the developmental process. In the immature stage, when the formation of basic circuit are in progress, the brain is highly prone to the adverse effects of these harmful substances. Due to the toxins the foundation structure of the brain weakens and could lead to permanent impairment. Substances such as alcohol, nicotine, marijuana and cocaine are few examples of widely available toxins. ( Riley, Mcgee & Sowell, 2004, p.1). These neurotoxins hinder in the

In utero child is “A member of the species homosapeins, at any stage of development, who is carried in the womb”. This is written in the legislation which was approved on the 20th of march 2004 by the US Senate. As the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome may be gained during the period of pregnancy it is very important to understand how alcohol affects the fetus. It is common Knowledge that fetus is very vulnerable, especially during the first three trimesters. The main reason for this vulnerability is that throughout this period its basic formations. The unborn baby is influenced by everything his/her mother is exposed to. The same thing works for alcohol. Female exposure to alcohol during the period of pregnancy results in the inclination in the development of the fetus and therefore further “chain reaction” of incorrect development. Females metabolize alcohol very quickly and this is the primary cause of their necessity to abstain from alcohol. The fetus is already