Alcohol in pregnancy Even a glass is dangerous

Alcohol should be completely taboo during pregnancy
Many people think that it does not matter if pregnant women sometimes drink a glass of sparkling wine or a beer. But health experts warn: Alcohol should be completely taboo for expectant mothers. The consumption of alcoholic beverages can harm the unborn child and lead to secondary damage in children.

Alcohol for expectant mothers is taboo
Unfortunately, far too many Germans still consider alcohol acceptable during pregnancy. According to a survey, 18 percent of Germans think it's okay if expectant mothers occasionally pick up a glass of sparkling wine or beer. However, many children who were exposed to alcohol in the womb later suffer secondary damage. Women should therefore completely abstain from wine, beer and Co. during pregnancy.

The dangers of alcohol consumption during pregnancy are still underestimated. Even small amounts of alcohol can endanger the unborn child and lead to secondary damage in children. (Image: highwaystarz / fotolia.com)

Risk is often underestimated
Many people still do not realize that alcohol consumption has implications for the unborn child. Even some pregnant women, the alcohol taboo is unknown.

"As a cause of alcohol use during pregnancy, on the one hand, some women do not know that they are pregnant when they consume alcohol. On the other hand, pregnant mothers underestimate the risks posed by alcohol consumption during pregnancy, "reads the website" Gynecologists on the Net "..

Around 10,000 children with alcohol-related disorders
Children who have been exposed to alcohol during pregnancy often become behaving later.

As reported by the Professional Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy in Germany (BKJPP) in a communication from the news agency dpa, affected children are more likely to endanger themselves because they can hardly judge the consequences for themselves and others.

According to the psychiatrists, so-called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are the most common reason for congenital disabilities in Germany. Around 10,000 children are born each year with such a disorder.

Intellectual deficits and mental disorders
Whether an unborn child is harmed or not depends not only on the amount of alcohol consumed, but also on the individual alcohol tolerance of mother and child. Therefore, even a glass of sparkling wine or beer in pregnancy can affect the child.

"Most of these affected children do not look at the damage, but they have mental and intellectual deficits or mental disorders," report the "gynecologists on the net"..

But in some children, the malformation is visible - some have, for example, smaller eyes or a narrow upper lip. In others, sometimes the brain is affected.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder often goes unnoticed
For example, according to the BKJPP, these children are permanently restless, nervous or frightened. In addition, they often lack the natural mistrust that protects people from danger. According to the psychiatrists, they are more susceptible to this and easier to get into unfavorable situations.

If the child is not malformed, the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder often goes unnoticed.

Behavioral therapy can help affected children deal with their mood swings or impulsive behavior, the BKJPP reports. So they can protect themselves from being exploited. In addition, a movement and speech therapy may be useful. (Ad)