Only children of alcoholic mothers may suffer from disorders caused by fetal alcohol.
False: Women who drink alcohol during pregnancy (whether consumer problems or not) are at risk of giving birth to a child who has difficulty following the exposure to alcohol. It is unclear whether there is a safe amount of alcohol. Therefore, it is recommended to refrain from drinking during pregnancy.
The fetal exposure to alcohol is a major preventable causes of developmental delay and birth defects in newborns.
True: The disorders caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol are preventable (unlike the other two biggest causes of birth defects or spina bifida and Down syndrome, also called trisomy)
Heroin use during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.
True: At birth, children of mothers who used heroin during pregnancy may have withdrawal symptoms like tremors, hyper-irritability and inconsolable crying. Cocaine use by the mother can also cause withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.
There is less risk when a mother drinks alcohol in late pregnancy because the child is more "trained".
False: Alcohol can affect child development, and this, throughout pregnancy. From first to last quarter, the child's brain develops and is particularly vulnerable to alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
Alcohol consumption during breastfeeding may increase the risk that a child is suffering from disorders caused by fetal alcohol.
False: The effects on the fetus that are associated with alcohol consumption by the mother (such as fetal alcohol syndrome) can be caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy. However, alcohol consumed by the mother passes into breast milk, which may decrease the milk ejection reflex, affect the taste of milk and affect the quality of infant sleep.
Also, regular use and occasional consumption of alcohol in large quantities should be avoided. Only moderate consumption (one or two drinks) and is occasionally possible. To prevent the baby from being exposed to alcohol, the mother can:
- breastfeed or express milk before drinking;
- wait two hours after drinking alcohol before breastfeeding.
For more accurate information on the recommended time between alcohol consumption and breast feeding according to maternal weight, refer to the consumption of alcohol while breastfeeding - Best Start.
It is best to stop drinking when pregnancy is planned.
True: Because women who become pregnant can not hear that a few weeks or months after conception, it is best to stop drinking when pregnancy is planned. It is particularly important for women who want to get pregnant avoid "binge drinking" (binge drinking during a single occasion).
A woman who uses drugs may have a smaller baby and thus have an easier delivery.
False: A smaller baby is often weaker. As may have difficulty in contributing to the delivery, this makes more difficult the work of the mother. Retarded intrauterine growth may have important consequences for the unborn, such a higher rate of hospitalization, greater exposure to perinatal diseases, a greater number of deaths, higher rates of health problems
A child with the after-effects of alcohol consumption by the mother during pregnancy will necessarily abnormal facial features.
False: A child with disorders caused by fetal alcohol will not necessarily abnormal facial features. It may present problems that are not physically apparent, such as behavioral and learning difficulties.
The effects of prenatal alcohol exposure are lifelong.
True: A child with disorders caused by fetal alcohol will be for a lifetime. However, early diagnosis as well as guidance and services tailored to the needs of the child can improve his quality of life.