Alcohol Effects on a Fetus

Topic Overview

What effect does alcohol have on a fetus?

A woman who drinks alcohol while she is pregnant may harm her unborn baby (fetus). Alcohol can pass from the mother’s blood into the baby’s blood. It can damage and affect the growth of the baby’s cells. Brain and spinal cord cells are most likely to have damage.

The term “fetal alcohol spectrum disorder” (FASD) describes the range of alcohol effects on an unborn child. The problems range from mild to severe. Alcohol can cause a child to have physical or mental problems that may last all of his or her life.

The effects of alcohol can include:

• Odd facial features. A child may have a small head, flat face, and narrow eye openings. It may be hard to pick out one trait, but in general, a child's head and face just don't look right. This gets more obvious by age 2 or 3.
• Growth problems. Children who were exposed to alcohol in the womb may be smaller than other children of the same age.
• Learning and behavior problems.
• Birth defects. Problems can occur that involve parts of the body such as the eyes, ears, heart, bones, or urinary tract.

Heavy alcohol use during pregnancy can also lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or a baby being born early.

How much alcohol is safe?

When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, so does her baby. Heavy drinking (5 or more drinks on at least one occasion) during pregnancy can severely affect an unborn child. Studies do not yet show if it is safe for a pregnant woman to drink a small amount of alcohol. People react to alcohol in different ways, so no one can really say for sure how much alcohol (if any) is safe.

Although the risk is higher with heavy alcohol use, any amount of alcohol may affect your unborn baby. You can prevent FASD by not drinking at all while you are pregnant. Many doctors suggest just that.

The effects that alcohol has on an unborn baby depend on:

• How much, how often, and at what stage of pregnancy the mother drinks alcohol. The worst effects often are related to heavy alcohol use (5 or more drinks on at least one occasion).
• Whether the mother used other drugs, smoked, or had poor health for any reason while she was pregnant. In these cases, the child is more likely to have problems.
• Traits passed down through families. Some babies are more likely to be harmed by alcohol than others. It’s not clear why, but there may be a genetic link.

What can you do if you're pregnant and have had alcohol?

Try to talk openly with your doctor if you have had alcohol while you're pregnant. The earlier you tell your doctor, the better the chances for your child.

If your doctor knows to look for FASD-related problems while you're pregnant, he or she can watch your baby’s health both before and after birth. And the doctor will know to do more tests, if needed, as your child grows.

If you think you might have a drinking problem, talk with your doctor, counselor, or other support person. Doing this can help you to see and address how alcohol may affect many parts of your life, including your pregnancy.

The child’s father as well as friends and family members all can help the pregnant woman avoid alcohol and seek help if needed.

When are alcohol effects on a fetus diagnosed?

Signs of FASD don't always appear at birth. A doctor may be able to spot severe alcohol effects (fetal alcohol syndrome, or FAS) in the child at birth. But less severe effects, such as behavior or learning problems, may not be noticed until the child is in school.

Sometimes the doctor can find severe problems before the baby is born. If your doctor knows about your alcohol use, he or she can order a test (ultrasound) to look for signs of FAS in your baby, such as heart defects or growth delays. The cause of problems that are found during the test may not be clear. But the findings alert the doctor to any special care a baby may need after he or she is born.

What is the treatment for a child born with alcohol effects?

Caring for a child with alcohol effects takes patience. Help for the child may include extra support in school, social skills training, job training, and counseling. Community services may be able to help your family with the costs of and emotions from raising your child.

Finding the problem early, even if the alcohol effects are mild, gives a child the best chance to reach his or her full potential in life. It may help prevent problems in school and mental health problems, such as substance abuse, depression, or anxiety.

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Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH	Last Updated: April 2, 2007
Medical Review:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Ernest L. Abel, PhD - Reproductive Toxicology
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