During pregnancy, the fetus receives all the nutrients it needs to grow and develop through the placenta. As an expectant mother during pregnancy alcohol (ethanol), it enters the fetus via her blood via the placenta. Then the child is at risk of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, or FAS.
The way in which alcohol affects and inhibits the normal development of the fruit and the question of how much alcohol can be consumed without risk of an FAS are still largely unknown.
It is suspected that the developing brain of the child are very sensitive to alcohol. In normal neurotransmission, neurons release substances that bind to receptors on other neurons and thus transmit a signal. Ethanol can block certain receptors in the child’s brain, causing nerve tissue damage.
Another theory is that ethanol constricts blood vessels in the umbilical cord, hindering blood flow to the fruit and thus the supply of nutrients necessary for growth. FAS can cause lifelong mental and physical abnormalities.
Features of FAS include:
– Low birth weight
– Facial abnormalities
– Small head size
– Non-functioning or poorly functioning organs
– Behavioral problems
– Mental retardation
– Slow growth and poor coordination
There is no safe amount of alcohol to drink during pregnancy. Pregnant women should not drink at all or seek medical attention if they have questions.
