The moment a woman already knows that she is pregnantstart taking certain precautions. The first thing you do, even before your doctor or gynecologist sees you and gives you more precise instructions, is stop eating certain foods that could be harmful or dangerous to the fetus (such as sausages or unpasteurized dairy, for example) and stop drink alcohol.
That happens at least in most cases. But the reality is that alcohol intake during pregnancy is much more widespread than one might imagine, since, according to a study to which the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP) refersbetween 2% and 5% of schoolchildren in developed countries suffer from Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). And these disorders, which can seriously affect the child’s quality of life, are caused exclusively by the mother’s alcohol intake during pregnancy.
When you read this data, the first thing you think of is women who drink too much or who may even have an addiction problem with alcohol. But, how much is it too much alcohol? It is not strange that many pregnant women who take care of themselves, who take the vitamin supplements prescribed by their gynecologist, who do not eat foods that can cause toxoplasmosis or listeria… think that to have a drink, nothing happens or that a simple beer doesn’t hurt. Is this really so?
We have asked you, on the occasion of the World Alcohol Free Daythis Friday November 15to an expert in the field, Dr. Ferran Campillo López, environmental pediatrician, member of the Environmental Health Committee of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics: “We don’t know if there is a safe dose,” he answers. “Studies suggest that even small amounts of alcohol have an impact on the brain at this very vulnerable stage.”
That is why it states that it is appropriate to apply the precautionary principle and not drink absolutely any alcohol during pregnancy. What’s more, better zero alcohol consumption “even 2-3 months before conception,” he asserts. Recommendation that not only the surrogate mother should follow, but also her partner, and explains the reason: “some trials indicate that alcohol consumption by the future father in the 60-70 days before conception can cause some of the problems that we observe also when the consumption is by the future mother.”
Alcohol acts as a neurotoxin in the developing brain
Risks of alcohol consumption during pregnancy
What are those problems that Dr. Campillo talks about? Well, risks in the development of the fetus and for the health of the mother. As far as the baby is concerned, alcohol acts as a neurotoxin in his brain, which is still forming, according to the pediatrician. “Exposure during pregnancy, a time of maximum vulnerability, can have an irreversible impact on the health and quality of life of that person, from problems with attention, learning, behavior, addictions, among many others.”
We must keep in mind that alcohol easily passes into the blood and brain of the fetus, so it can cause what is known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)which encompass a wide variety of physical, behavioral and cognitive problemswith different degrees of intensity, as indicated by the Environmental Health Committee of the AEP.
Alcohol intake during pregnancy also involves risks for the future motherin which “they have been observed since fertility problems to pregnancy complications such as intrauterine growth retardationthe spontaneous abortions or a premature birthin addition to more immediate problems such as an increased risk of postpartum depression and other mental health problems,” details Dr. Ferran Campillo, who recalls and emphasizes that, even in the healthy adult population, the alcohol It is a known carcinogen and a substance with addictive potential. How can it not be harmful to a pregnant woman or her baby?
© Getty ImagesWhat are Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and how are they detected?
The specialist explains to us that these disorders cover a very wide range of manifestations. Among them, the most serious would be Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)which in addition to the neurodevelopmental problems mentioned above, “causes very characteristic facial features”, such as small, round eyes and a skull that is smaller than usual; This syndrome also causes other problems, such as “a delay in growth before or after birth.”
But this is only about 10% of the total number of children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), the specialist from the Environmental Health Committee of the AEP tells us; “the majority only present the cognitive or attention problems that we mentioned.” Problems that can sometimes go unnoticed by their own families and it is not until school age when their existence is detected; Sometimes it can even be confused with other disorders.
“Many of the children with FASD They are not diagnosed as such and are labeled with other diagnoses such as ADHD, learning disorders, autism spectrum disorders or conduct disorders, among others. In fact, in a high percentage these are associated as comorbidities,” says Campillo López. “Hence the importance of carrying out a systematized screening with tools like Green Leaf “which we carry out in different places in the country, because they help us identify children at risk before they are even born to offer them the best monitoring and support,” he adds.
The recommendation is zero alcohol consumption during pregnancy, but even 2 or 3 months before conception
What help or treatments do children with FASD need?
Taking into account that the way and intensity in which FASD manifests can vary greatly from one child to another, we have asked the environmental pediatrician about the help needed by minors who have been diagnosed with this disorder. “Children with FASD often need school support, psychotherapy and social skills trainingamong others,” he answers. “In some cases in which problems such as ADHD or anxiety are associated, psychotropic drugs may be indicated.”
It also underlines the importance of these children receiving adequate support both at home and at school and for “the preparation and transition to adulthood, so that they can be happy and autonomous people.”
Regarding the possible pharmacological treatments, informs us that drugs are being tested specifically to reduce symptoms during pregnancy or the first months of life, “but there is none that surpasses what we already know: zero consumption during pregnancy is the best strategy because FASD is 100% “avoidable.”