Effects of alcohol on pregnancy

This is an automatically translated article.

This article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Truong Nghia Binh - Obstetrician-Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital. Doctor with over 13 years of experience in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Pregnant women are always advised not to use stimulants, especially alcohol, because it has serious effects on the health of the fetus. So how does alcohol affect pregnancy? Let's refer to the useful information below to keep the fetus healthy.

1. Does drinking alcohol and beer in moderation cause any risks?

During pregnancy, there is not any amount of alcohol or beer that is considered safe, even moderate drinking (one drink a day) can cause health problems for the mother and fetus. pediatric. Although moderate use of alcohol does not cause the same serious effects as excessive use (alcohol addiction), some of the effects on the fetus that may be seen are those of mothers who drank alcohol while pregnant. Pregnant women are more likely to have problems with learning such as dyslexia, difficulty speaking, communication problems, concentration problems, poor processing of information, or difficulty determining the consequences of problems. Selection.

2. Drinking a lot of alcohol causes what risks?

Heavy drinking is drinking more than 3 drinks at a time or drinking regularly 7 or more times a week. The most serious consequence of heavy drinking during pregnancy is the increased risk of fetal alcohol distress syndrome, or FAS for short. It can cause serious birth defects for your baby, including:
Brain development problems Lower than average height and weight Smaller than normal head size Facial features abnormality Some notes if you are using alcohol during pregnancy
In general, alcoholic beverages or stimulants such as alcohol are not safe for pregnant people. Whether a beer, a glass of wine, a mixed drink or even a glass of wine contains alcohol, and it has an adverse effect on the fetus. If a woman is trying to get pregnant, she should not drink alcohol or any other type of alcoholic beverage.
In case you do not know you are pregnant and still use alcohol, it is best for pregnant women to stop drinking to avoid serious harm to the fetus.

3. How to prevent birth defects related to alcohol

Alcohol-related birth defects are completely preventable. The first thing is that pregnant women need to stop drinking alcohol during pregnancy. The sooner you stop drinking, the better for your unborn baby.
If you have difficulty quitting drinking, talk to your doctor or other health care professional for advice and help. During your first prenatal visit or at any time during pregnancy, a health care professional can provide advice on avoiding alcohol during pregnancy.
At Vinmec, pregnant women participating in the package maternity care program will be examined under the supervision of doctors throughout their pregnancy. The factors that are harmful to the health of the mother and the fetus, especially from alcohol, will also be warned by the doctor and given advice to help pregnant women recognize the risks and know how to avoid them.

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