If you are becoming a mother and worried about your relationship with alcohol, you need to understand how that relationship with alcohol will affect fetal development. A mother’s health during pregnancy directly affects the fetus, meaning, even drinking alcohol in moderate amounts can lead to your child experiencing lifelong complications. This article looks over the serious considerations you should take about what happens if you decide to drink alcohol while pregnant.
There is truly no safe amount or timing for alcohol consumption during the period of pregnancy. The side effects you face of drinking during pregnancy are too detrimental to ignore, and really are not worth the risk even if it seems minimal. Problems can manifest as physical, behavioral, and cognitive disabilities in your child if you decide to consume alcohol. If you think you might need help with your dependence, consider a speaking with specialists at a Tennessee rehab like Apex Recovery.
Apex Recovery provides a space where you can focus entirely on healing and prevention. Specialized care for expectant mothers is available at many rehabs near Nashville. A lot of times mothers may only be concerned about exactly when FAS develops. However, when fetal alcohol syndrome develops during the gestational period is not as significant as the toll it can take.
The reality is that alcohol can disrupt growth at any stage. And the effects of FAS are a permanent reality. 1 in 9 pregnant women report drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Even just a small amount of alcohol can cause a fetus to develop fetal alcohol syndrome disorder.
Because FASD affects the fetus all the way through birth and into adulthood, seeking help may be your best option. Maybe a rehab close to Knoxville or more luxury centers by Nashville can provide the high level of care needed to prevent these outcomes. Read on or contact us today for our complete guide to fetal alcohol syndrome disorder.
What Is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?
Fetal alcohol syndrome is a disorder that develops during pregnancy. Women transfer this disorder to the fetus when they drink alcohol. It may seem like drinking while you are pregnant won’t have much effect, but it does.
This is why it is important to seek help if you struggle with alcohol. When the fetus is exposed to alcohol, it can end up affecting your child for the rest of their life.
How Does Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Affect Fetuses?
Believe it or not, alcohol transfers to the fetus. It first goes through your bloodstream, then through your placenta, and directly into the fetus’s bloodstream.
This exposure to alcohol can cause developmental issues during and after pregnancy. The fetus may have a hard time growing while in the womb, and continue to have those developmental issues after birth. Because your placenta cannot stop the alcohol from transferring, there is nothing protecting the fetus from what you drink. This means everything you consume while pregnant will directly impact the child.
Fetuses at early stages do not have a liver like grown adults do. As you grow, you develop a strong liver that can protect your body from alcohol. Because the fetus does not have this, the alcohol is essentially poisoning it.
How Does Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Affect Children as they Develop?
Fetal alcohol syndrome doesn’t only affect the fetus in the womb; it also has an effect as they develop into children and adults. When the baby is born, they may have abnormal physical features. This could affect their growth, their facial features, head size, and weight.
As the child grows older, you will notice other differences. This may be learning difficulties, disabilities, neurological disorders (like seizures), and behavioral issues. Many kids with FASD develop hyperactivity symptoms and have poor concentration and memory. Schooling may be very difficult as they have trouble paying attention and learning.
How Do I Know if My Child Has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome can often be misdiagnosed as autism or other learning disabilities. Some disorders have overlapping symptom similarities with the effects of FASD. By having a medical professional assess your child and your own history, they can make an accurate diagnosis.
For example, a study found that 79% of children with autism had a higher nonverbal IQ than verbal IQ. Children with FASD had a higher verbal IQ than nonverbal IQ.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Treatment
While there is no solution to cure FAS, there are ways that you can lessen the symptoms and help the child have a normal life. There are emotional and behavioral therapies that can help put your child on the right track. By starting this at an early age, you can help lessen their issues in the long run.
There are medications that can help with their attention and other neurological issues. However, these medications will not make the FAS diagnosis go away—they will only help lessen the symptoms.
Preventing Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
The answer to preventing FAS is to avoid alcohol use during pregnancy. Some people do not find out if they are pregnant until a few weeks after conception. Because of this, you should also cut out alcohol if you are trying to get pregnant. Even one drink could negatively impact your child for the rest of their life.
If you have a history of alcohol abuse, you are not alone. You can seek professional assistance to stay sober during pregnancy. Alcohol treatment centers will give you the resources to fight your addiction. Apex Recovery offers a wide range of drug and alcohol recovery programs. We have outpatient and inpatient rehab to put you on a better path for your child.
Protect Your Child Today
You don’t need to risk your child developing fetal alcohol syndrome. Instead, put down the drink and start the road to recovery. You can gain your life back and look forward to the joy you will have as a parent. Understanding the side effects of drinking during pregnancy is the first step, and our 30 day rehab is a great starting point. We also offer assistance entering specialized Christian rehab programs to help you find spiritual and physical healing during this time.
Why keep waiting when you can start the journey today? The truth is that alcohol and fetal development are at risk throughout the entire pregnancy. We can give you access to pregnant women’s rehab providing the specific care needed to address what happens if you drink alcohol while pregnant. For those seeking a premier environment, our Nashville luxury rehab offers the perfect setting to focus on your health.
At Apex Recovery, our mission is to help you reach your goals and overcome the effects of addiction. This isn’t a journey you need to do alone. We believe in transparency regarding rehab treatment costs and even provide support through connections to senior rehab care for families in need. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help by calling (877) 881-2689.
