A mother's folly: Drinking during pregnancy can harm your baby

International Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Day, 9 September 2010

Many mothers to-be do not know that drinking excessive amounts alcohol while they are pregnant is extremely dangerous to their unborn baby. Alcohol easily crosses the placenta from mother to child and is very toxic to the baby. It can cause a number of problems including spontaneous abortion, premature labour, stillbirths and foetal alcohol syndrome, which is a variety of birth defects. Most experts therefore advise against the drinking of alcohol during pregnancy.

International Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Day is on 9 September 2010 and is celebrated annually to improve awareness of the dangers of consuming alcohol while pregnant. As part of the Government Employees Medical Scheme's (GEMS) ongoing effort to educate our members and future members on a range of healthcare topics, we would like to provide you with some information on foetal alcohol syndrome and how to prevent it.

Foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a range of conditions that affect children as a result of a mother's alcohol drinking during pregnancy. Children who are born to mothers who drink heavily may suffer brain damage, mental handicaps, emotional and behavioural problems and birth defects, including defects of the face, heart and other organs. This is a high price to pay for drinking and it should be kept in mind that the damage caused to an unborn child by drinking is permanent and not reversible.

It is estimated that between one and two thirds of children with special educational needs are affected by their mothers' alcohol drinking, according to the SA National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence  (SANCA). South Africa has one of the highest incidences of FAS in the world, with the greatest prevalence reported in the Western Cape province.

An individual who has been affected by FAS may experience a range of mental difficulties including:

• Low IQ
• Developmental delays
• Learning problems
• Behavioural problems
• Mental health problems such as depression
• Disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• Increased risk of substance abuse

Just how much alcohol can you drink during pregnancy? Small amounts of drinking have not yet been shown to have any negative effects on a foetus, but experts warn that alcohol is a very powerful drug for an unborn baby. Interestingly enough alcohol is considered to be more harmful to a foetus than illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and even heroine, and none of those should be taken during pregnancy as they too can have an impact on the development of a growing baby.

Some experts say that pregnant women should not drink regularly or heavily, and certainly never get drunk. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that pregnant women and women who are trying to get pregnant should give up drinking completely. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health agrees saying that FAS is thought to be the third highest cause of mental retardation in babies and women should completely "refrain from drinking alcohol during pregnancy".

The damage that may be caused to a baby by drinking alcohol varies greatly and depends upon a number of factors and not just on the amount that is consumed during pregnancy. It has been shown, for example, that women who smoke and take other drugs with alcohol tend to have children who are more severely affected by FAS.

The nutrition of the mother during pregnancy also plays an important role. The children of women who have had the benefit of better nutrition during their pregnancy tend to be less severely affected than those who are not well nourished. FAS therefore tends to be a more severe problem among the poorer sections of the population. However, it has been shown that even the children of even wealthier women who have been well nourished often suffer from developmental, behavioural and learning problems if their mother has consumed a lot of alcohol during her pregnancy.

Among the risk factors for FAS are:

• Age - an older mother who is over the age of 30 is more likely to develop problems than a younger woman;
• Poor nutrition and poverty;
• Genes - some babies seem to have more of a genetic sensitivity to developing a problem than others;
• Other drugs such as tobacco, prescription drugs, illegal drugs and caffeine; and
• A lack of knowledge about the dangers of alcohol.

FAS is not always easily diagnosed as it causes other conditions, such attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which may not necessarily be traced back to drinking. Indeed, doctors and parents may not even be aware that certain problems in their child are caused by FAS.

As has already been noted, there is no cure for FAS although special educational programmes and behaviour modification therapy are available to support children affected by the condition. There are also medications available to treat problems such as ADHD, and surgery for some congenital defects such as a heart defect. These treatments may be expensive, however, and why should a child be subjected to unnecessary suffering?

In conclusion, drinking during pregnancy is dangerous for the baby and is not recommended. Any woman who is pregnant or who plans to get pregnant is well advised to give it up immediately. Those mothers who have a drinking problem should contact one of the many support groups that are available.

For any GEMS member queries please phone the GEMS call centre on 0860 00 4367 or send an SMS to 083 450 4367. GEMS will assist you in every way possible to ensure your family's health and wellbeing.

References

1. ‘Abused from the womb', Mail & Guardian Online, 26 June, 2009, www.mg.co.za/article/2009-06-26-abused-from-the-womb.
2. ‘Foetal alcohol syndrome', KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, www.kznhealth.gov.za/fas.htm.
3. ‘Foetal alcohol syndrome', Better Health Channel, www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au.
4. ‘Foetal alcohol syndrome', SANCA, www.sancawc.co.za/master/article.php?id=14.
5. ‘Middle-class mistake', Mail & Guardian Online, 26 June, 2009, www.mg.co.za/article/2009-06-26-middleclass-mistake.