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Drinking alcohol while pregnant and breastfeeding can lead to many dangerous consequences for the health of mother and baby. There is no safe limit for drinking beer and wine during pregnancy. Therefore, prevention of harmful effects of alcohol on pregnant and lactating women is extremely necessary.
1. Why can't pregnant and lactating women drink alcohol?
Alcohol, beer is a stimulant, it can be addictive as well as adversely affect health, especially for pregnant and lactating women. According to studies, drinking alcohol causes the most serious damage during the first 3 months of pregnancy and then at any time during pregnancy can also harm the fetus.
The reason is because alcohol easily crosses the placenta to enter the fetus's body. If a pregnant mother drinks alcohol, it also means that the fetus in the womb also drinks alcohol. However, because the organs of the fetus are not yet complete, the process of eliminating alcohol outside will take much longer. This will prevent the fetus from absorbing the nutrients and oxygen needed by the body. The case of alcohol abuse during pregnancy can hurt and adversely affect the formation and development of the fetus.
For women who are breastfeeding, if they drink alcohol, the amount of alcohol will enter the blood and affect breast milk. Breastfeeding can affect eating and sleeping as well as interfere with development and movement (slow walking,...). Therefore, all doctors recommend that nursing mothers avoid alcohol, including medicinal alcohol, after giving birth.
2. Effects of alcohol on fetus and newborn
2.1 Harm of alcohol on the fetus With a normal adult, drinking alcohol will also cause many health consequences from mild to severe. The negative effects of alcohol are even more dangerous if the drinker is a pregnant woman.
The most serious consequence of drinking alcohol during pregnancy is fetal alcohol intoxication disorder syndrome. This is a disease with lifelong consequences, making the baby underdeveloped in the womb, after birth or both, with an abnormal face; heart defects and damage to the central nervous system.
Babies with fetal alcohol syndrome may also have abnormally small heads and brains along with other birth defects, especially the heart and spine. In addition to this syndrome, some other harmful effects of alcohol on the fetus are:
Stillbirth in the womb: The cause of this harm is because alcohol will create an extremely toxic environment. harmful to the fetus (alcohol), which the child's immature body cannot cope with, resulting in miscarriage and stillbirth of the mother. The child's upper lip is thin or sometimes cleft, the distance between the eyes is small, and there are other facial abnormalities; The height and weight of the fetus are below average, so the risk of fetal malnutrition is high. Children after birth may have hyperactivity, lack of concentration, poor motor coordination or may have mental retardation, making thinking, language, movement and social skills poor, thereby causing intellectual and learning disabilities. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, urinary defects, and limb defects in the fetus. 2.2. The harmful effects of alcohol on babies Doctors often advise nursing mothers not to drink alcohol or smoke, because it can affect the baby's sleep and physical development. .
Currently, many people believe that drinking beer will make their milk supply abundant, but there is no scientific evidence to prove this. In fact, alcohol only dehydrates the mother's body, negatively affects the quality and supply of milk, and disrupts hormones related to milk production.
In addition, when the mother is intoxicated after drinking alcohol, she will not be able to safely care for the baby. Therefore, prevention of harmful effects of alcohol is very important for pregnant and lactating women.
Phòng chống tác hại của rượu bia đối với phụ nữ mang thai và cho con bú là vô cùng cần thiết
3. How to protect your baby from the harmful effects of alcohol?
Currently, there is no research to prove what is a safe level to drink alcohol. Therefore, drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to unpredictable consequences such as miscarriage, premature birth, etc. bleeding and causing fetal malformations, affecting the baby's development,... Therefore, in order to prevent harmful effects of alcohol, experts and doctors recommend pregnant women and children Breastfeeding needs:
Give up the habit of drinking alcohol during pregnancy and while breastfeeding; Say no to alcoholic beverages, including wine and egg wine to ensure the health of both mother and child; Family members, especially husbands, should limit alcohol consumption to a minimum. To prepare for a healthy pregnancy. In addition to giving up the habit of drinking alcohol, both husband and wife should have their reproductive health checked 3-5 months before becoming pregnant.
The wife should:
Get vaccinated before pregnancy (especially against rubella because rubella in pregnancy is extremely dangerous ) Genetic testing to screen for genetic diseases before pregnancy Check for secondary infections In particular, women over 35 years old who want to become pregnant (especially if they have never been pregnant) will have to have a very detailed health check because pregnancy at this age often problems: Ovarian failure, premature birth, higher risk of birth defects, placenta previa, preeclampsia. Husbands should:
Check reproductive health, detect diseases of testicular atrophy, physiological weakness, weak sperm... Sexually transmitted diseases, especially those that cannot be cured, are extremely dangerous. Vinmec currently has many comprehensive health care programs for couples, pregnant mothers and their unborn babies, including basic pre-marital examination packages, advanced pre-marital examination packages, and maternity packages. . Vinmec has a team of experienced doctors in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology, IVF, stem cells, gene technology, capable of synchronously and comprehensively deploying the most advanced assisted reproductive techniques today.
For specific information about fertility and maternity packages at Vinmec, please contact the hospitals and clinics of Vinmec health system nationwide.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
