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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffWhen you drink alcohol, it enters your bloodstream and reaches your developing fetus by crossing the placenta. Because a fetus metabolizes alcohol more slowly than an adult does, your developing baby's blood alcohol concentrations are higher than those in your body. Alcohol also interferes with the delivery of oxygen and optimal nutrition to your baby's developing tissues, organs and brain.
The more you drink while pregnant, the greater the risk to your unborn baby. The risk is present at any time during pregnancy. However, impairment of facial features, the heart and other organs, bones, and the central nervous system may occur as a result of drinking alcohol during the first trimester, when these parts of the fetus are in key stages of development. In the early weeks of the first trimester, many women may not be aware that they're pregnant. Alcohol may affect the brain of the fetus at any time during pregnancy.
- Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fas/fasask.htm. Accessed April 9, 2009.
- Sielski LA. Infants of mothers with substance abuse. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 10, 2009.
- Effects of alcohol on a fetus. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. http://download.ncadi.samhsa.gov/prevline/pdfs/SMA07-4275.pdf. Accessed April 11, 2009.
- Drinking alcohol during pregnancy. March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/printableArticles/14332_1170.asp. Accessed April 9, 2009.
- Understanding fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: Getting a diagnosis. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. http://fasdcenter.samhsa.gov/documents/WYNKDiagnosis_5_colorJA_new.pdf. Accessed April 9, 2009.
