What is the relationship between birth defects and alcohol?

The Dangers of Drinking for Two

When a pregnant woman drinks alcoholic beverages, the alcohol in her blood crosses the placenta easily and enters the embryo or fetus through the umbilical cord. Children affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol may suffer lifelong consequences, including intellectual impairment, learning disabilities, and serious behavioral problems.

All drinks containing alcohol can hurt an unborn baby. A standard twelve-ounce can of beer has the same amount of alcohol as a four-ounce glass of wine or a one-ounce shot of straight liquor. In addition, some alcoholic drinks, such as malt beverages, wine coolers, and mixed drinks, often contain more alcohol than a twelve-ounce can of beer. Studies have not been done to establish a known safe amount of alcohol that a woman can drink while pregnant.

Any time a pregnant woman participates in regular drinking increases her chance of having a miscarriage and puts her unborn child at risk for growth deficiencies, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems. Birth defects associated with prenatal exposure to alcohol can occur in the first eight weeks of pregnancy, before a woman even knows that she is pregnant.

Between 2011 and 2013, one in ten pregnant women surveyed reported alcohol use, and one in thirty-three reported binge drinking within thirty days of the survey, according to the CDC.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy and is one of the leading known causes of mental disability and birth defects. It is characterized by abnormal facial features, including small head size, narrow eye slits, and abnormalities of the nose and lip areas; growth deficiencies; and problems with the central nervous system (CNS).

Children with FAS may have problems with learning, memory, attention span, problem solving, speech, and hearing. These problems often lead to difficulties in school and in getting along with others. FAS is an irreversible condition that affects every aspect of a child’s life and the lives of his or her family. FAS is preventable if a woman abstains from alcohol while she is pregnant.

Fetal Alcohol Effects

In the past, the term fetal alcohol effects (FAE) was generally used to describe children who did not have all of the clinical signs of FAS, but who had various problems, including growth deficiency, behavioral problems, or problems with motor and speech skills. FAE has also been used to describe children who have all of the diagnostic features of FAS, but at mild levels. Because experts in the field were unable to agree on a single definition for FAE, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) proposed the terms alcohol-related neurodevelopment disorder (ARND) and alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD). ARND describes the functional or mental impairments linked to prenatal alcohol exposure, such as behavioral or cognitive abnormalities. These include learning difficulties, poor school performance, poor impulse control, and problems with mathematical skills, memory, attention, and judgment. ARBD describes malformations of the skeletal system and major organ systems. Such malformations may include defects of the heart, kidneys, bones, and auditory system.

Treatment and Prevention

There is no cure for either fetal alcohol syndrome or fetal alcohol effects. They are irreversible, lifelong conditions that affect every aspect of a child’s development. With early identification and diagnosis, a child with FAS can receive services that can help to maximize his or her potential.

The easiest way to prevent FAS is to abstain from alcohol use during pregnancy. Any amount of alcohol consumed during pregnancy is potentially dangerous to an unborn baby. If a pregnant woman is drinking during pregnancy, it is never too late for her to stop. The sooner a woman quits drinking, the better it will be for both her and her baby. If a woman is not able to quit drinking, she should contact her local social service agency or health plan for alcohol abuse treatment, if needed. If a woman is not yet pregnant, she should use an effective form of birth control until her drinking is under control.

Mothers are not the only ones who can help prevent FAS, however. Significant others, family members, schools, social organizations, and communities alike can help to prevent FAS through education and intervention. Also, emerging research suggests that long-term alcohol abuse among men may alter sperm cells in ways that introduce defects to the fetus at conception. Continued research will help to clarify this link and improve prevention efforts.

Bibliography

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“Drinking and Your Pregnancy.” NIAAA. Natl. Inst. on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, May 2010. Web. 29 Mar. 2012.

"Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs): Data and Statistics." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC, 24 Sept. 2015. Web. 28 Oct. 2015

Nayak, Raghavendra B., and Pratima Murthy. “Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.” Indian Pediatrics 45.12 (2008): 977–83. Print.

“Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol.” Alcohol Research & Health 24.1 (2000): 32–41. Print.

Thackray, Helen M., and Cynthia Tifft. “Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.” Pediatrics in Review 22 (2001): 47–55. Print.

“Treating Individuals Affected with FASD.” NOFAS. Natl. Org. on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, 2004. Web. 29 Mar. 2012.