If you’re an expecting mother or you’re planning to conceive, you might be wondering which aspects of your existing lifestyle are safe to pursue during pregnancy. If you’re someone who enjoys occasional alcoholic beverages, you should know that this is a habit you will have to kick for a certain period of time. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is extremely irresponsible, and this article will tell you all about it.
Alcohol and Pregnancy
When you’re pregnant, there is no safe amount of alcohol you can consume since even moderate amounts can cause devastating consequences. According to experts, pregnant women should avoid alcohol by all means, all for the sake of protecting the developing fetus. In the past, it was thought that small amounts of alcohol were fine, but now it is clear that drinking can cause problems as bad as those that arise as the effects of smoking during pregnancy. That is why you should only listen to the advice provided by professionals who are up to date with the latest research instead of relying on the outdated opinions of the people you come across in your surroundings or online. Even if you are just planning to conceive, not drinking is the safest choice you can make.
The Effect of Alcohol on the Baby
When you drink alcohol, it stays in your blood and reaches the baby, going right through the placenta. In that process, it can seriously damage the child’s development. The unborn baby does not yet have a properly developed liver, so it cannot process the alcohol it receives.
Consequently, alcohol consumption can increase the risk of premature birth or even miscarriage. Next, the baby can be born with a pretty low weight, or it can suffer a variety of consequences after the birth. There is even a serious condition called FASD – fetal alcohol spectrum disorder that a child can develop. FASD is a life-long issue that can cause problems with joints, bones, and even some organs. Moreover, it can have a negative effect on learning and behavior, speech, impulse control, social skills development, and emotional regulation.
How to Avoid Alcohol During Pregnancy
Whether you like it or not, alcohol is usually intertwined with all sorts of social gatherings, and it is often hard to avoid it, especially if you still don’t want to share the news about your pregnancy. So if you’ve decided to be responsible but you’re not ready to share the big news with others, you can always say that you have to drive, you’re on a new diet that forbids alcohol, or you simply have an early morning and a big day tomorrow. On the other hand, if you’ve already announced your pregnancy and you talk openly about it, you should stand firmly behind your choice and simply state that you are not planning to drink alcohol while you’re pregnant.
And if you’re lucky enough to experience an aversion to your favorite drink, it will be easy for you to turn to water and juices. Many women claim that the smell of beer or wine started making them feel nauseous during the first trimester.
The Breastfeeding Period
After you’ve had a drink, the alcohol goes into your breastmilk, and the process takes between 30 and 60 minutes. The amount of alcohol that gets into your breastmilk depends on the following factors: the strength and the amount of drinks you’ve consumed, your weight, your recent meals, and how quickly you were drinking. All in all, it takes around two hours for the body of an average woman to be free of alcohol after she’s had one standard drink. Ideally, you should avoid alcohol while breastfeeding, but if you decide to have an occasional drink, create a plan that will protect your baby so you can always breastfeed with no alcohol in your blood.
Pregnancy is a sensitive time, and everything you consume affects the baby, as well. As an expecting mother, you should steer clear from alcoholic drinks, and now that you’re aware of all the risks involved, you will be strongly motivated to do so. Even if you’re planning the pregnancy or you’re in the breastfeeding phase, do whatever you can to safeguard your baby from the damaging effects of alcohol.