Baby Care

Everybody knows about the harmful effects of alcohol to uterus and postnatal development of the organism of the child. Thus, even in ancient times it was believed that Hephaestus – the only cripple among the Olympian gods – was conceived by Zeus when he was drunk. Aristotle described drinking as a voluntary madness. He claimed that constantly bibulous or feeble-minded women, in most cases, have children with similar defects. Helios thought that if the drunk man has a child, it is unlikely that the baby «will have a good head». Carthage and Sparta had laws prohibiting married couples to consume alcohol before they are 30 years old. This was done to avoid conception while intoxicated.

Future parents should be aware that in certain periods of pregnancy effects of alcohol is especially dangerous for the body of the child. The period of extra-uterine development (7-8 days after fertilization)is the most vulnerable, as the impact of negative factors, including alcohol, can cause serious injury to eggs. In the early period (from 3 to 6 weeks of intrauterine development) the development of organs and systems of the embryo takes place. And each system is developed in a strictly defined period of time. For example, a 17-38th day after fertilization occurs the development of heart, at the 18th day – the nervous system, a 36-180th day – the genitals, etc. Use of alcohol or other toxic substances during the active formation of systems and organs of the developing embryo may contribute to abnormal deviations in those organs and systems.

Alcohol syndrome fetus and Pregnancy

Prolonged effects of alcohol leads to oxygen starvation in the developing organs of the body. As a result of late development of the brain, its mass decreases, pathologic changes occur in the liver, the skeleton of the head, activity of blood-forming organs and a number of enzymes is reduced. There are many changes on the part of almost all organs and systems of the fetus. With chronic use of alcohol during pregnancy in the future the newborn will have some combination of defects of physical and mental development, which in medical practice is known as fetal alcohol syndrome.

The main cause of the fetal alcohol syndrome, as demonstrated by scientific evidence, is a violation of chromosome – the damage of genetic structures of cells. They are not inherited from parents, but may appear under the influence of alcohol.

Alcohol fetal syndrome is characterized by four groups of disorders: pre-and post dystrophy, craniofacial disorders, abnormalities of organs and systems, leading to various deformities, and damage to the various divisions of the brain.

Please note an important fact: the safe dose of alcohol for pregnant women does not exist! That is why every woman should know that only a complete abstinence from any alcohol during pregnancy (no matter whether it is beer, alcohol is considered an easy or natural grape wine) can guarantee the birth of a healthy baby!