Alcohol during pregnancy – is it possible to drink, the effect on the embryo and the effects of libations

The content of the article

• How does alcohol affect pregnancy
• The harm of alcohol
• Effect on the fetus
• In the early days
• In the first weeks
• In late terms
• In the last weeks
• Wine
• In the early stages
• In the 2nd trimester
• In the third trimester
• Beer
• Non alcoholic
• In the early stages

Young people regularly drink alcohol, some in limited quantities, others even suffer from alcoholism. Alcohol during pregnancy in the early stages and the last weeks is strictly prohibited, this is the first thing that should be abandoned to the expectant mother. The influence of ethyl alcohol from the composition of the drink has a tangible effect on the development of the fetus, leads to incorrigible pathologies, adversely affects many body systems of a pregnant woman.

How does alcohol affect pregnancy

Young mothers often have a dilemma: can pregnant women drink? Any doctor will say that it is forbidden at any stage of pregnancy and even before the conception itself, if you plan it. It is recommended to give up alcohol to both parents in order to exclude a harmful effect on the unborn baby. The following are specific descriptions of examples of how alcohol affects pregnancy. The detrimental effect of alcohol extends to the mother and the unborn baby. This leads to the mental and physiological pathologies of the child. disruption of a woman’s internal systems.

The harm of alcohol

Various studies are constantly being carried out that reveal the relationship between the physical and mental disabilities of the baby with alcohol. Alcohol and pregnancy are mutually exclusive things that always lead to negative consequences; they can occur immediately or over time. Alcohol and its decay products clog the vascular system, make the liver, kidneys and other internal organs of the person work for wear. The harm is associated with its ability to be absorbed into the walls of the intestine, stomach and into the bloodstream.

The degree of exposure depends on the stage of alcoholization – this is the period of time for which the alcohol was drunk, and the intensity of its intake. When used in uncontrolled quantities on a regular basis, it leads to early pathological changes in women. A negative effect on a child called ASP (fetal alcohol syndrome) spreads even faster. Below is a short list of the effects of alcohol on an adult:

• obesity;
• stroke;
• dementia;
• hydrocephalus;
• intestinal ulcer, stomach;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• impotence (in men).

Effect on the fetus

If an adult himself consciously makes a choice, then the effect of alcohol on the child does not depend on his desire. Alcohol during pregnancy is a crime on the part of the mother in relation to the baby. Deviations that occur during fetal development, if the future mother is an alcoholic, are called TSA. This term indicates the presence of many violations indicating the influence of alcohol on fetal development. They create problems in life (physical deformities, mental retardation).

A severe anomaly is developed due to alcohol abuse during pregnancy – pathology of the structure of the face, a slowdown in physical development, growth, and low birth weight. These children are difficult to learn, they often suffer from behavioral, neurological problems. The main problem is that alcohol syndrome cannot be cured, which means that all of the above symptoms will remain with the child forever.

With constant use of alcohol by a woman during pregnancy, a miscarriage can occur and premature birth (stillborn or premature baby) can begin. The effect on each person is different, for example, one glass for a man is the norm, for a woman – too much, causing intoxication. It is highly recommended that a future mother during pregnancy even buy cold preparations with caution, because some include alcohol (sometimes up to 25%).

In the early days

It is believed that at first, alcohol does not harm the baby. Alcohol in the first week of pregnancy allegedly cannot get to the fetus, because the placenta is not formed, the child does not receive food from the mother. This statement is not completely true, because a small amount of alcohol that gets into the blood may prevent the cells from becoming fixed in the uterus, which will terminate the long-awaited pregnancy. Doctors strongly recommend couples who have problems conceiving to give up alcohol long before trying to get pregnant.

Alcohol in the early stages of pregnancy is critically dangerous even when the embryo has fixed. It leads to severe consequences in the development of the fetus, which cause mental retardation in development, physiological deformities. For a child, this stage is difficult, dangerous and important, therefore, it cannot be subjected to additional risk. Many studies confirm that alcohol syndrome develops even with 3-4 small doses of alcohol. If you use 2 times a day, then the risk is reduced. You need to limit not the quantity, you need to completely stop drinking.

In the first weeks

First, the fertilized cell moves along the fallopian tube towards the uterus itself. The egg is actively divided, it enters the cavity in a state of loose accumulation. Alcohol in the first weeks of pregnancy can cause irreparable harm to cells, leading to the death of an egg. You can understand the process of fetal development and the effect of alcohol on it during pregnancy if you consider all the stages:

1. The most active sperm fertilizes the egg, then the cell moves to the uterus.
2. There is an endometrium ready for implantation. Through it, the egg grows into the uterine membrane, there continues to divide.
3. At this stage, part of the cells create a fleecy membrane called the “chorion”, which then becomes the placenta.
4. Alcohol that has entered the body can penetrate the uterus and harm the egg, which sometimes provokes miscarriages in the first weeks of pregnancy.

In late terms

Regular drinking during pregnancy leads to the development of embryo-fetopathy in the baby. Children with deviations have problems with the swallowing reflex, refuse to suckle. Women are strongly advised to refrain from all types of alcoholic beverages in any quantities (even small ones) during the gestational period. The likelihood of developing defects is about 50%. Alcohol during pregnancy in the later stages can cause:

1. Abnormal development of the genitourinary system, anal opening.
2. Defects of the cardiovascular system.
3. Violation of the development of the upper, lower extremities.
4. Hypoplasia, lack of fingers.
5. Pathological abnormalities in the development of the nail plate, joint dysplasia.
6. Intrauterine growth retardation: hypoxia (lack of oxygen), low weight.
7. Craniofacial defects: wide and flat nose bridge, narrow eyes, low forehead – all these are consequences of drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
8. Female embryos in the late stages of pregnancy under the influence of alcohol form alcoholic embryo-fetopathy.
9. In children, a disturbed adaptation process is manifested, compensatory mechanisms are absent or poorly developed, which leads to hypoglycemia and severe excitability.

In the last weeks

Before the term of labor, alcohol is even more dangerous than before. Alcohol in the last weeks of pregnancy gets to the fetus by the placenta. Alcohol is the most dangerous toxic substance of all that lead to a mental, physical impairment of a child’s development. It is absorbed into the bloodstream, crosses the placental barrier without problems..

Ethyl alcohol and its decay products are harmful to the baby. Alcohol negatively affects the cells of tissues, organs of the unborn child, and causes irreparable damage to the nervous system, especially the brain. There is a violation of the hormonal background, metabolism, the amount of vitamins is reduced. In case of chronic alcoholism during pregnancy, the risk of having a baby with defects, anomalies increases significantly, for example:

• abnormalities in the development of limbs;
• weak weight gain, retarded mental development (oligophrenia);
• damage to the cardiovascular system;
• craniofacial defects.

Wine

Opinions of people and experts differ on this drink, some argue that in the last stages wine in very small quantities can positively affect the formation of the fetus. Any alcohol is always harmful in large quantities and even the most advanced doctors recommend that both parents and the expectant mother should refrain from drinking before conception.

All experts unequivocally argue that wine is strictly prohibited in the first stages of gestation. During this period, the fetus forms and alcohol can greatly affect this process, alcohol has a teratogenic effect, penetrates unhindered into the baby’s organs and tissues. Doctors say that at a later date, red wine is acceptable for pregnant women to drink, the drink increases the amount of hemoglobin in the fetus.

In the early stages

At first, the placenta is not yet able to protect the child from external harmful effects. In the case of alcohol, even a fully formed barrier does not become a serious obstacle. Wine in the early stages has the same teratogenic effect as any other alcohol. Each stage of the formation of the unborn child is very important and parents are fully responsible for what happens to them..

If a girl drank wine, not knowing that the egg had been fertilized, then there can be only two options for the development of events: the embryo will not form and you will not know about conception or alcohol will not affect it and development will continue. The main thing is to stop drinking immediately after you find out that you are expecting a baby, otherwise alcohol will act on the child like poison. Ignoring the ban on alcohol leads to the ugliness of the unborn baby.

In the 2nd trimester

The main emphasis of the supporters of this drink is on some beneficial properties. Wine in the 2nd trimester can help the expectant mother to increase hemoglobin level, this is an important point, given that many women develop anemia. Red wine promotes better stomach function, increases appetite, improves bowel function and detoxifies. All this would matter if it were not for the alcohol content in the drink, which poses a serious threat to the fetus at this stage, which can cause deviations in physical and mental development..

In the third trimester

Some doctors claim that by this time all the processes important for the baby have already passed and the risk of disrupting their course is minimal. Wine in the third trimester is allowed, but it is very important to consider the quality and quantity of the drink. It is important that all the beneficial properties of this drink appear only with moderate use, this recommendation is relevant not only during gestation, but also in normal condition.

If you can not resist your desire to drink alcohol, then no more than 2 times a week you can drink up to 100 ml of red wine. It should be remembered separately that this alcohol is strictly prohibited for stomach ulcers, liver cirrhosis, cardiac ischemia, pancreatitis. Do not recommend drinking wine if you are depressed, in some cases, the drink provokes depression.

Beer

This is another popular drink, which due to its low alcohol content is considered not so much dangerous. Beer carries the same danger for an unborn child as other alcohol. Alcohol quickly passes through the placenta to the fetus, affects the tissues, organs, and nervous system of the child. When used, the following deviations often develop in a child:

• external deformities, defects: cleft palate, cleft lip;
• vascular, cardiac pathologies;
• intrauterine lag in growth, development;
• limb deformity;
• postpartum dysplasia.

Frequent use of beer affects the health and growth of the fetus, often doctors observe alcohol syndrome in babies. This disease is not treatable and causes problems with the baby’s health: the cranium (microcephaly) does not develop, small stature, weight. Adaptation functions are also impaired, they constantly scream, do not sleep, worry, and because of the violation of grasping reflexes, it is not possible to breastfeed the child. Alcohol syndrome in preschool age is manifested by the following symptoms:

• strabismus;
• underdeveloped zygomatic arches;
• flattened nape;
• underdeveloped lower jaw;
• short palpebral fissure;
• cleft palate;
• narrow, short upper lip;
• smooth nasolabial fold.

During pregnancy, the use of even low-alcohol drinks leads to the birth of a child with renal failure, heart defects. Any alcohol, including beer, harms the baby, provokes physical deformity, mental disorders. In the early stages of pregnancy, the abuse of this low-alcohol drink leads to miscarriages, placental abruption. Beer has a diuretic effect, therefore, an additional burden is created on the renal system, which already works in enhanced mode..

Non alcoholic

Young mothers have the erroneous misconception that this version of the drink does not pose a danger to the fetus due to the lack of alcohol in the composition. Non-alcoholic beer has a different negative impact factor. The drink undergoes a fermentation process, therefore, in a small amount, alcohol still remains. Non-alcoholic beer has its own characteristics of preparation to get a shade, the taste of ordinary beer is put in it special additives, dyes in large quantities. These are carcinogens, preservatives that can significantly harm a child..

Drinking a drink does not lead to 100% destruction of the health of the unborn child, in some cases, mothers, when drinking alcohol, were carrying quite healthy children. It only says that they were lucky in this case. If you really want a beer, then it is permissible to drink 100 ml of this drink once a week. Be sure to choose a brand that consists only of high-quality natural products.

In the early stages

Sometimes a girl continues to drink, not suspecting that she is already pregnant. At this stage, the fertilized egg is only trying to gain a foothold in the uterus, alcohol can greatly interfere with this process, which leads to a miscarriage. Beer in the early stages should be stopped drinking immediately as it became known about the situation. With continued use of alcohol, there is a risk of detachment of the placenta, impaired fetal development.

In the first trimester, intrauterine formation of the internal organs of the baby occurs. With ultrasound, it is already possible to determine the fetal heart rate. Alcohol at this stage of pregnancy can disrupt the formation of the systems of a new organism. The first trimester determines the future health of the baby, how good the circulatory system, internal organs will work. Alcohol from beer quickly and without any obstacles penetrates the placenta, causes hypoxia and leads to breathing problems, brain development.