Drinking too much can lead to: premature birth. low birth weight. impacting on the physical and mental development of the child, a condition known as Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
Q. How does alcohol affect the fetus during pregnancy?
Drinking alcohol, especially in the first 3 months of pregnancy, increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and your baby having a low birthweight. Drinking after the first 3 months of your pregnancy could affect your baby after they’re born. The risks are greater the more you drink.
Table of Contents
- Q. How does alcohol affect the fetus during pregnancy?
- Q. How much alcohol can affect a baby?
- Q. Can you have a healthy baby without prenatal care?
- Q. What types of birth defects are caused by toxic chemicals?
- Q. What birth defects are caused by environmental factors?
- Q. What toxins should be avoided during pregnancy?
- Q. Can smelling gas harm unborn child?
- Q. How do I know if my baby has carbon monoxide poisoning?
- Q. How can carbon monoxide affect pregnancy?
Q. How much alcohol can affect a baby?
Although no amount of alcohol is considered safe during pregnancy, it is known that drinking 8 or more drinks a week or 5 or more drinks in one day will affect an unborn baby.
Q. Can you have a healthy baby without prenatal care?
Prenatal care can help keep you and your baby healthy. Babies of mothers who do not get prenatal care are three times more likely to have a low birth weight and five times more likely to die than those born to mothers who do get care. Doctors can spot health problems early when they see mothers regularly.
Q. What types of birth defects are caused by toxic chemicals?
Common birth defects caused by toxic chemicals include brain damage, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, and developmental delays. Several different types of birth defects are linked to toxic exposure. These include structural birth defects, where a body part is missing or deformed.
Q. What birth defects are caused by environmental factors?
A Sampling of Environmental Agents Studied in Relation to Birth Defects
| Agent1,2 | Birth Defect(s) |
|---|---|
| Secondhand tobacco smoke | Neurobehavioral, cardiac, limb, respiratory defects; oral clefts; hypospadias; gastroschisis |
| Sulfur dioxide | Musculoskeletal, cardiac defects (cattle) |
| Thalidomide3 | Limb defects |
Q. What toxins should be avoided during pregnancy?
Chemicals to avoid when you’re pregnant or breastfeeding
- Pesticides and herbicides. Some pesticides (bug killers) and herbicides (weed killers) are known to affect developing and newborn babies.
- Cleaning products.
- Paint.
- Mosquito repellent.
- Mercury.
- Arsenic-treated timber.
- Nail polish.
- Paint and lead-based products.
Q. Can smelling gas harm unborn child?
There are reports of carbon monoxide poisoning in pregnant women causing premature birth, fetal death or neurologic deficits and fetal brain damage. This is thought to be from large amounts of carbon monoxide in the mother’s blood. This causes the baby to receive less oxygen.
Q. How do I know if my baby has carbon monoxide poisoning?
Symptoms can include headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. If your child has signs of CO poisoning, take your child into fresh air right away and call 911.
Q. How can carbon monoxide affect pregnancy?
Monoxide carbon exposure during pregnancy can cause severe damage, including intrauterine hypoxia, serious neurological damage, and even fetal death. CO dissolved in maternal plasma crosses the placenta by passive diffusion and thus combines with fetal haemoglobin.
