If you have become pregnant, it is very possible that you had a strong desire to have a glass of sparkling wine or wine, but ended up settling for a fruit juice to avoid harming the baby.
In fact, it is not known today that alcoholic beverages are harmful to the baby, but still some moms end up making exceptions on special dates? often the obstetrician himself is of the opinion that a sip will not hurt.
Of course, most pregnant women who have taken just a few sips of alcohol have no serious problems because of this, but a new study in Australia provides yet another reason to avoid alcohol in pregnancy.
According to research published in JAMA Network earlier this month, drinking alcohol during pregnancy, even in small amounts, can cause craniofacial changes in the baby.
How was the study conducted?
Conducted by a team of Australian researchers from different universities and child health research institutes, the study sought to determine if there was any relationship between baby's face and skull shape and alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
Read also: How to get a good night sleep during pregnancy
To this end, scientists recruited more than 1,500 mothers who were in the first trimester of low-risk pregnancies between January 2011 and December 2014. Mothers were monitored for their alcohol consumption both during the first trimester and in their two others.
After birth, the researchers analyzed the craniofacial profile of 415 12-month-old children with the help of super cameras that make it possible to create three-dimensional models of babies' faces.
The changes alcohol causes on baby's face
Analysis of the models produced from children's faces and skulls showed that there may be a relationship between prenatal alcohol exposure and the baby's craniofacial shape, even when the mother consumed minimal doses of alcohol.
Differences were found mainly in the middle third of the face, nose, lips and eyes. In general, the changes were due to a retraction of the middle third of the face, which causes a shortening of the nose and makes the tip more upturned.
How intense are these changes?
It should be noted that these changes in the babies' faces are imperceptible to the naked eye and that they were identified by the software algorithm that analyzed the 3D models. In other words, these changes are far from causing deformations on children's faces.
Read also: Pregnancy symptoms: Know the first signs and find out if you are pregnant
Scientists say the changes are only aesthetic and do not affect the physical or cognitive development of babies. In addition, they point out that they do not yet know if these changes are permanent, as a child's face changes a lot in its early years.
A certainty amid inconclusive results
Although they have come to the conclusion that alcohol exposure at any level can influence the craniofacial development of babies, the researchers do not yet know what these changes mean clinically.
However, even in the midst of ongoing investigations, they point to one certainty: If you are trying to get pregnant or think you may be pregnant, the safest option is to avoid alcohol altogether.
Ultrasound Fetal Response To Alcohol Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (April 2024)
- Pregnancy
- 1,230
