Drinking and smoking during your pregnancy -- at any time -- may be detrimental to the health of your baby. The first three months are especially critical because all your baby's major body parts and organs are being formed at this time. The effects of drinking and smoking on a developing fetus has been well-documented.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Drinking alcohol during the first month of your pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome, the leading cause of mental retardation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1,000 to 6,000 babies are born with this condition every year. Babies with fetal alcohol syndrome may present with facial deformities, small or deformed brains, heart defects, small statures and mental retardation. These effects are usually permanent. There is no safe amount of alcohol. Drinking seven or more drinks a week or binge drinking increases the chances of your baby developing fetal alcohol syndrome.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders is a set of disorders similar to fetal alcohol syndrome but without all the characteristic features,especially the facial features. These disorders can be further classified as alcohol-related birth defects and alcohol-related neurodevelopmental defects. Babies suffering from these conditions may experience heart, liver, kidney, or bone defects; learning disabilities; behavior problems; attention deficits and hyperactivity; delays in language and speech; and psychological problems.
Low Birth Weight
Smoking and drinking during your pregnancy may result in your delivering a baby with abnormally low birth weight -- defined as a weight less than 5.5 lbs. However, which period is the most critical has not been determined. But the number of cigarettes you smoke during the pregnancy is related to the risk of having a low birth-weight baby. The more you smoke, the greater the risk. Babies who are born at a low birth weight are at risk of developing more serious problems, such as cerebral palsy and mental retardation.
Miscarriage
Smoking increases your risk for spontaneous abortion and still births. The nicotine in cigarettes constricts blood vessels in the uterus and placenta, resulting in decreased blood flow. The low blood flow may be responsible for spontaneous abortions.
