According to an Institute of Medicine Report to Congress in 1996, cocaine, heroin and marijuana are not as harmful to a developing fetus as alcohol. Alcohol passes easily through the mother's bloodstream into the fetus, causing the fetus' blood alcohol level to match or exceed that of its mother. Even moderate drinking is associated with an increased risk of birth defects ranging from fetal alcohol syndrome to abnormalities in the skull, eyes and ears.
Cause
According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, alcohol causes cell death, which can damage a fetus and cause abnormal development leading to birth defects. Alcohol triggers cell death by interfering with nerve cells and by constricting blood vessels. Alcohol disrupts the development of nerve cells, the way they travel to form different parts of the brain and their function. Alcohol also triggers cell death by constricting blood vessels, which interferes with the blood flow in the placenta that delivers nutrients and oxygen to the fetus.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
The most serious birth defect caused by drinking during pregnancy is fetal alcohol syndrome, or FAS, state Joseph L. Jacobson, Ph.D., and Sandra W. Jacobson, Ph.D., of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. FAS is associated with distinct facial abnormalities. The eyelid openings are usually short, the mid-face is flat, the upper lip is thin and there may be a groove between the upper lip and the nose. The child may experience behavioral and cognitive problems such as lowered IQ. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene calls fetal alcohol syndrome the leading known preventable cause of mental impairment.
Fetal Alcohol Effects
Children whose mothers drank during pregnancy and who present some of the symptoms of FAS are diagnosed with fetal alcohol effects, or FAE. These children experience a lower IQ, although it may be higher than that of children with FAS. Alcohol-related birth defects include physical abnormalities in the heart, eyes, skeleton or ears, according to Jacobson and Jacobson. Deformities associated with FAS can lead to impaired speech and hearing.
Other Effects
Spontaneous abortion may result from alcohol consumption during pregnancy. FAS may result in abnormalities in the central nervous system, including neurological problems. Development may be slowed both during the fetus stage and as the child grows. The skull and brain may appear malformed. Hyperactivity and other mental handicaps such as mental retardation also result from FAS. At any point during development, exposure to alcohol can damage a fetus and cause lasting effects, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The brain develops throughout pregnancy, so permanent brain damage could occur at any point when a pregnant woman drinks.
References
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Child Development; Joseph L. Jacobson, Ph.D., and Sandra W. Jacobson, Ph.D.; June 2003
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; Women, Alcohol and Health; 2011
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Effects of Alcohol on a Fetus; 2007
