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Is consuming alcohol when pregnant safe?

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Treatment for alcoholism can only start if the alcoholic acknowledges the issue and decides to stop drinking.

Is consuming alcohol when pregnant safe?

Treatment for alcoholism can only start if the alcoholic acknowledges the issue and decides to stop drinking.

 

The precise  limit of alcohol that is absolutely safe for a pregnant woman is yet unknown to experts. Professionals in medicine advise against drinking at all while expecting a child or attempting to conceive. Because to the possibility of miscarriage, abstaining  from alcohol during the first trimester is crucial. Premature birth rates have also been found to be greater when drinking early in pregnancy.

If you do decide to drink while pregnant, keep your intake to one or two units, no more than once or twice a week, and always remember that it's never enough to get drunk. Heavy or binge drinking while pregnant can harm the developing foetus. Heavy drinking is described as having five or more units of alcohol per day, whereas binge drinking is defined as ingesting six or more units in a single session. If you do decide to drink while pregnant, keep your intake to one or two units, no more than once or twice a week, and always remember that it's never enough to get drunk.

When you consume alcohol, it enters your bloodstream immediately. After it gets into your bloodstream, it crosses the placenta to the foetus. Your infant is more likely to experience lifelong health problems the more alcohol you consume.

 

If you consumed alcohol before discovering that you were pregnant, don't worry. Many ladies have gone out one night and became pregnant without realising it. Play it safe and stop drinking as soon as you learn you are expecting. If you find it difficult to avoid alcohol, speak with your doctor. Your doctor will undoubtedly assist you in having the healthiest pregnancy possible.

 

Alcohol's effects on the foetus

Alcohol enters the bloodstream of a pregnant woman, travels via the placenta, and then reaches the foetus. Through the umbilical cord, the placenta, which develops inside your womb, provides food and oxygen to the developing foetus. One of the last major organs to form in a foetus, the liver doesn't reach maturity until the final trimester. Alcohol abuse can have a negative impact on a child's overall development. Any amount of alcohol consumed at any moment during pregnancy has the potential to seriously impair the developing brain and other organs of your unborn child.

Recent research has shown that drinking during the first trimester, in particular, increases the chance of low birth weight in addition to the risk of miscarriage. Alcohol use has the potential to have an impact on your unborn child. Behavior issues, learning challenges, hyperactivity, language issues, and attention span are possible side effects.

 

According to several research, pregnant women who consume as little as one drink per week are more likely than nondrinkers to give birth to children who later display aggressive behaviour.

There may also be birth defects like heart difficulties, vision problems, or hearing problems. These birth defects are known as congenital disability. They have the capacity to alter the functions and shape of one or more body parts. They may affect a person's general health, the way their body functions, or how their body develops.

 

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy may raise the risk of foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). A variety of problems, such as intellectual and developmental difficulties, can affect children with FASDs. These issues might make it difficult for someone to communicate, learn, take care of themselves, or get along with family and friends. Often, FASDs are permanent. Excessive drinking raises the possibility of having a child with (FASDs).

 

Avoid drinking when pregnant.

While most women lose their taste for alcohol in the first trimester, abstaining from it for nine months may not be as challenging as you may expect. Some women choose to stop drinking once they learn they are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

 

Women who discover they are pregnant after already drinking throughout the early stages should stop. They shouldn't worry needlessly because the chances of the foetus being harmed are probably low because they stop drinking early in pregnancy. They are free to speak with their healthcare professional if they have any concerns.

 

Get help for your alcoholism

Speak with a professional if you are having trouble reducing your alcohol intake. Find your local alcohol support group to kick this nasty habit; there are various confidential aid and support programmes available. Abstinence is the aim of alcoholism treatment. The majority of them remain dry permanently, and those with strong social support and motivation tend to improve more quickly.

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