Doctors of all times and peoples constantly repeat that alcohol and pregnancy are incompatible. But there are overly bold or frivolous ladies who try to disagree with this. As an argument in favor of “moderate” drinking in the early stages of pregnancy, studies of some foreign scientists or examples from the lives of their own acquaintances are cited.
In fact, the first trimester of pregnancy can be divided into two periods, in each of which ethanol has different effects on the condition of the fetus:
- the first 10–12 days from the moment of conception;
- from the 12th–13th day until the end of the first trimester of pregnancy.
The effect of alcohol on the embryo in the first 10–12 days from conception
A woman is already born with a full set of follicles (about 500 thousand), and throughout her entire life they only die, no new ones are formed. This is not scary, since during the entire childbearing period only 400–500 of them will mature.
But under the influence of alcohol, the follicles begin to die more intensively, and some are damaged. If a sperm fertilizes a diseased egg, then the child may subsequently be born with a congenital pathology. The less a woman drinks alcohol, the healthier her eggs are.
Even strong alcohol drunk immediately after conception or in the first few days after it will not affect the condition of the fertilized egg. If the egg was initially healthy, then the division process is carried out according to the plan laid down by nature.
The danger is that in the body of the expectant mother, ethanol provokes increased secretion in the fallopian tubes. It is through these tubes, dividing intensively along the way, that the egg travels to the uterus in the first 4–5 days after conception. If the fallopian tubes become blocked, the embryo will become stuck and lodge directly in the tube.
When the embryo, already consisting of 58 cells, enters the uterus on the 4th–5th day after conception, it begins to implant and its outer shell, the chorion, is formed. Up to the 13th day, while there is no placental circulatory system yet, alcohol drunk by the mother can kill the embryo and provoke a miscarriage. But alcohol cannot cause any disease in the fetus.
Everything that has been said is true regarding those women who drink little, rarely, and only high-quality alcoholic beverages. Of course, when planning a pregnancy, it is better to give up alcohol altogether, but anything can happen in life.
If the expectant mother, not yet knowing about the pregnancy, drank alcohol in the first week and a half after conception, there is no need to worry: this will not affect the baby’s health. Of course, it is imperative to check whether an ectopic pregnancy has occurred.
The effect of alcohol on the condition of the fetus from the 13th day after conception
Approximately on the 13th day after conception, the creation of the placental circulatory system begins. Now the fetus receives oxygen and all nutrients from the mother’s body. Alcohol consumed by a woman causes vasoconstriction, as a result of which the unborn child experiences hypoxia - oxygen starvation.
Even the liver of a healthy adult perceives ethanol as poison. The fetal liver is just developing and is unable to cope with the poison. And thanks to the placental circulatory system, the fetal blood contains the same percentage of alcohol as the mother.
In the first trimester, all organs of the embryo are formed. The fetus is especially sensitive from the 28th to the 49th day, when the child’s facial features are formed. Ethanol poisoning can negatively affect a baby's appearance.
Here are just some of the consequences of ethyl alcohol poisoning and fetal hypoxia in the first trimester of pregnancy:
- fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Babies with severe forms of the disease often die several years after birth. If they survive, they are significantly behind their peers in development. Often such children have difficulty seeing or hearing. It is very difficult to teach them anything, as it is difficult for kids to concentrate in order to learn new information. A child with pronounced FAS can be easily recognized by his small head, flat face (the structure of the facial parts is underdeveloped), and short chin. The eyes are small, the bridge of the nose is low, the nose is short and upturned;
- disturbances in the functioning of the brain and spinal cord;
- damage to the nervous system. At a minimum, children suffer from hyperactivity and are subject to frequent mood swings. In severe cases - psychosis, manic disorders, suicidal tendencies;
- disorders in the sexual sphere: in boys - cryptorchidism, in girls - pathologies of the reproductive organs.
For the mother, drinking alcohol in early pregnancy often results in miscarriage or premature birth. But even if the baby was born normal, you should not relax. Sometimes the consequences appear during puberty, when an intelligent and obedient child suddenly turns into an angry teenager who does not accept any reasonable arguments.
What to do if a pregnant woman wants alcohol
Often, pregnant women experience a craving for alcoholic drinks with a pronounced taste: beer, wine, alcoholic cocktails. There is an opinion that if a pregnant woman wants something, then she definitely needs to be given it: they say, the body itself knows what is good for it. The trouble is that craving for alcohol is really a signal from the body about a lack of certain substances, only incorrectly interpreted by the brain.
Let's try to figure it out:
- the desire to drink beer indicates a lack of vitamins, primarily B, C, D, E, and folic acid. Folic acid is vital for DNA synthesis, which occurs intensively in the fetus. Pregnant women need to take medications containing folic acid, since they do not get enough of it from food;
- the desire to drink wine is often a sign of low hemoglobin, developing anemia, deficiency of vitamin C and iron. In such cases, doctors prescribe hematogen, iron-containing drugs;
- craving for alcoholic cocktails arises due to a lack of fresh fruit in the diet. If fruits cannot be eaten (for example, they cause allergic reactions), the doctor will recommend the necessary vitamins.
The desire to drink beer during pregnancy indicates a lack of vitamins or other substances in the body. Thus, the desire to drink alcohol in the early stages of pregnancy cannot be satisfied or ignored. It is necessary to consult a doctor, get tested, find out what substances are missing in the body and make up for their deficiency by changing the diet and taking vitamins.
- a well-known truth. No woman in her right mind would risk drinking alcohol while pregnant. However, the fact of conception is not immediately established. This circumstance is often the reason for expectant mothers to worry about the fact that they, not knowing about their situation, drank alcohol.
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The influence of alcohol at the initial stage of intrauterine development
A woman can be unaware of conception for at most 3 to 4 weeks (depending on the length of the menstrual cycle). During this period, many changes occur in the fertilized egg.
During the first 5 days, she descends into the uterus, and at the same time intensively divides, feeding on her own resources. By the end of the 7th day, a multicellular organism penetrates the wall of the uterus, connecting with its blood vessels. From them he begins to receive nutrients, since the egg’s own reserves are running out by this time.
Within 2 weeks, the basis of the placenta, umbilical cord and neural tube of the embryo is formed. Drinking alcohol during this period is especially dangerous.
At the beginning of intrauterine development, the fetus does not have a circulatory system separate from the mother. Its rudiments are formed only by the 4th week of pregnancy.
Therefore, when drinking alcohol, its concentration in the blood of the mother and embryo is equivalent.
The toxic effect of ethyl alcohol on the fetus can cause genetic disorders, which the body senses and will most likely get rid of the embryo. Simply put, it will happen. Thus, nature itself protects a woman from bearing and giving birth to defective offspring.
If the fruit is preserved, it means that no damage occurred or it was minor. However, there is a danger that the body's defense system will not work for some reason, but this rarely happens.
During the first month, the rudiments of the digestive, excretory, and respiratory systems of the body are formed. By the end of 3 weeks the heart begins to beat.
The degree of risk of pathologies in a child caused by alcohol consumption at this stage of development depends on the following facts:
- The amount of alcohol-containing drinks that entered the woman’s body. The danger increases significantly after consuming 30 grams. alcohol (80 grams of vodka, a bottle of beer, 2 glasses of wine).
- Regularity of alcohol consumption.
- Individual characteristics of the body. It has long been known that people metabolize alcohol differently. Some lack the enzymes responsible for breaking it down.
- The presence or absence of aggravating circumstances (smoking, drugs, nervous shock).
- Quality . Counterfeit drinks often contain methyl alcohol (technical alcohol) instead of ethyl alcohol (food grade). This replacement is deadly for the body.
The toxic effects of alcohol in the first month of pregnancy most often lead to disorders of the nervous system. Such children may have problems with learning and sleep in the future. They are more susceptible to psychological problems and have difficulty communicating.
What does the health of a newborn depend on?
The fact of the birth of a healthy baby depends on many circumstances. The most significant of them are the following:
- heredity
- nutrition during pregnancy
- the presence or absence of infectious diseases in a woman during pregnancy
- negative impact of the external environment
- parents' health status at the time
- nature of labor
- psychological atmosphere in the immediate environment of the expectant mother
- smoking, use of medications, drugs and alcohol by a pregnant woman
In fact, there are many more circumstances that influence the baby’s future in terms of his health. The presence or absence of pathologies in a newborn depends on their combination.
It is impossible to predict how genes will turn out in each specific case. But it is quite possible to reduce the adverse impact of other factors.
There is no clear answer to the question: “How will the consumption of alcohol by an expectant mother in the first month of pregnancy affect the health of her baby?” The birth of many completely healthy children was preceded by conception during the holidays, during which their parents did not adhere to a sober lifestyle.
This does not mean that alcohol does not affect the formation of the fetus at the initial stage of its development. Indeed, along with such joyful statistics, there is another, not at all comforting. A considerable number of children conceived under similar conditions were born with pathologies.
Recently, doctors are increasingly talking about the need to plan pregnancy.
In this case, the risk of exposure to alcohol and other toxic substances consumed by the woman on the embryonic life is completely eliminated.
It is not for nothing that in many countries there was a custom prohibiting newlyweds from drinking alcohol during wedding celebrations. This is how wise ancestors took care of the health of the future generation.
While watching the video you will learn about myths during.
I would like to believe that planned pregnancy will become the norm in the near future. In the meantime, the number of so-called accidental or drunken conceptions is much greater. That is why many women, upon learning about their pregnancy, ask the question: “How does alcohol affect the intrauterine development of a child.”
Doctors often hear that a girl drank alcohol without knowing that she was pregnant. Alcohol abuse cannot have a positive effect on the health of the human body. This is a negative habit that it is better to get rid of in order to keep your body healthy and healthy. However, many doctors recommend occasional drinking of alcohol in small doses: red or white wine. But there is a category of people for whom drinking alcohol is strictly contraindicated. So, do expectant mothers in early and late pregnancy fall under this category?
The level of influence of alcoholic beverages on the fetus can be determined by the woman’s gestational age. Let's try to understand in detail why pregnant women should not drink alcohol.
The influence of alcohol in the first months after conception
Women planning a pregnancy consciously refuse to drink not only alcohol, but also other bad habits and foods. But there are cases when a woman does not know about the pregnancy and drinks alcohol during this period out of ignorance.
The period of ignorance about the onset of conception can last up to 4-5 weeks, that is, almost a month of the first trimester. During this period, when the woman is not yet aware of her pregnancy, she behaves as usual and may drink alcohol and other harmful foods.
In the first month of pregnancy, the fetus tries to attach itself to the wall of the uterus in order to grow and develop further. And at this time, the expectant mother does not know about the processes taking place in her body, she is sure that everything is as usual. Therefore, during holidays and friendly gatherings he allows himself a glass of wine, whiskey or a couple of bottles of beer. So alcohol without knowing that life is born inside, and can this somehow harm the unborn baby?
This is quite a stressful situation for a woman when she suddenly finds out that she is pregnant, and her lifestyle has remained the same all this time. Many women in this situation decide to terminate the pregnancy because they are afraid that alcohol could cause irreparable harm to the fetus.
What doctors say about alcohol and pregnancy
Doctors at family planning centers are confident that alcohol should be excluded from a woman’s diet during pregnancy. And immediately during pregnancy planning and before conception, not only the expectant mother, but also the future father should give up alcohol. Therefore, if a girl drank alcohol before the delay and found herself pregnant, then she should tell the doctor about it.
In reality, everything is much more complicated, because not every pregnancy becomes planned. If alcohol was consumed while the woman did not know about her pregnancy (the first 4 weeks), there is no need to panic. It is necessary to immediately stop any consumption of alcoholic beverages after confirmation of conception. It would also be a good idea to consult a doctor and conduct the necessary examination. If the alcohol consumption was one-time and minor, there is no reason to panic. The development of the embryo will go according to plan without any deviations; the main thing is to adhere to a certain lifestyle that is suitable for a pregnant woman.
First weeks
During the first weeks of pregnancy, fertilization of the finished egg by sperm occurs, cell division and movement of the fetus towards the wall of the uterus occurs. If a large amount of alcohol enters a woman’s body at this stage, or if there is an intense negative effect on the entire body as a whole (infectious disease, elevated body temperature, poisoning, exhaustion, and so on), then the body may reject the fetus.
Thus, if a girl drank alcohol and then found out that she was pregnant, she needs to see a doctor, because miscarriage often occurs at a very early stage. Sometimes a woman doesn't even know she's pregnant because the bleeding and symptoms of miscarriage are similar to regular menstruation and premenstrual syndrome.
The effect of alcohol on the embryo in the first trimester
The first trimester is very important for the proper development of the unborn baby. His organs, nervous, circulatory and other life-supporting systems of the body begin to form and develop. If you drank alcohol without knowing that you were pregnant, and the drinking did not stop at this stage, then this may have the following consequences:
- vasospasm occurs in the uterus, which leads to oxygen starvation;
- the process of obtaining vitamins and useful elements is disrupted, the embryo does not receive enough necessary nutrients for proper development;
- poisoning of fetal tissue with ethanol, which is contained in alcohol. Development of alcohol syndrome in a child. Children with this disorder suffer from various developmental and physical appearance disorders.
Pregnancy is a very important and responsible stage not only in the life of a woman, but also in the life of the unborn child. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the food you eat, your environment and your lifestyle.
Drinking wine in early pregnancy
Many people assume that drinking small amounts of wine during pregnancy will not harm the unborn baby. This is a fundamentally wrong opinion, since any alcohol can harm the fetus. Wine is useful in small doses to improve blood circulation for people living in mountainous areas, but this drink is strictly contraindicated for pregnant women.
Drinking champagne during pregnancy
Any alcohol should be excluded from the diet of the expectant mother. This also applies to sparkling wines, including champagne. The alcohol content in it is equivalent to that found in wine.
Unlike other alcoholic drinks, champagne has a special property that puts it in the category of drinks dangerous for pregnancy. Due to air bubbles, which are a natural fermentation process in champagne, the drink is absorbed into the bloodstream much faster than regular alcohol. Once in the blood, alcohol goes through the entire cycle in a woman’s body, reaches the fetus and can cause irreparable harm to the health and development of the unborn child. It’s unlikely that a glass of champagne is worth dooming your baby to various diseases.
Consequences of drinking beer at the beginning of pregnancy
Drinking beer has become an integral part of people's daily lives. Many people don’t even think about the harm this drink brings to the average body, and even more so to the body of a pregnant woman.
It is known that the taste preferences of pregnant women change. This is due to an increase in the level of a hormone that helps maintain pregnancy. Some women claim that they definitely want to drink a foamy drink. The motivation of such future parents is based on false concepts of benefit to the fetus. Women suggest that the urge to drink beer arises because the fetus “knows what it needs.”
This is a false statement based on unfounded assumptions and stereotypes. A good doctor who is caring for a woman’s pregnancy will insist that alcohol, smoking and an unhealthy lifestyle will negatively affect the baby’s health.
Drinking beer in the first trimester
The negative effects of foam and other alcoholic drinks have been proven by research. If the expectant mother drank alcohol without knowing that she was pregnant, then she should listen more to her body. Drinking beer in the first trimester of pregnancy can cause the following negative consequences for the child:
- deviations in the physical development of the baby;
- deviation and lag in intellectual development;
- premature birth;
- chronic alcohol poisoning in a child;
- miscarriage in late pregnancy;
- oxygen starvation of the fetus;
- deterioration in nutrient intake.
Beer harms not only the child, but also the expectant mother. It puts additional stress on the urinary system, including the kidneys, which are already worn out during pregnancy.
Vital organs develop every day throughout the first trimester of pregnancy. If you disrupt this process with alcohol, you can get undesirable consequences.
Consequences of drinking non-alcoholic beer
Those around you who are uneducated in reproductive matters may give short-sighted advice. For example, replace alcoholic beer with non-alcoholic beer. This drink does not contain alcohol, which means it is harmless to the fetus. But it is not so.
The main disadvantages of non-alcoholic beer include:
- yeast used in the production of any beer;
- chemical additives that give a subtle taste to beer;
- preservatives used for long-term storage of beer.
Pregnant women are drawn to the intoxicating drink because it contains B vitamins. They help maintain pregnancy and the development of the unborn child. But it is better to replace beer with healthy foods that also contain large amounts of B vitamins: walnuts, bananas, almonds, avocados and many others. It is better to stick to a proper and balanced diet throughout pregnancy, then the sudden urge to eat or drink something unusual may not arise at all.
Risking the health of your unborn child by indulging in your bad habits is reckless and irresponsible. The more alcohol and harmful foods a pregnant woman consumes, the higher the chance of giving birth to an unhealthy child. There is no need to rely on the experience and stereotypes of “experienced” people. Timely and correct consultation with the doctor managing the pregnancy will help the expectant mother and her child go through this period as harmlessly and safely as possible.
If a woman has drunk a lot of alcohol without knowing that she is pregnant, there is no point in tearing out her hair. A single or irregular intake will not lead to any serious consequences, but do not forget that alcohol has a proven teratogenic effect on the fetus.
The effect of alcohol on pregnancy
It often happens that a woman drank alcohol once and did not know that she was pregnant. And then incredible pangs of conscience begin; some particularly suspicious people even begin to think about terminating the pregnancy.
Yes, in fact, alcohol and pregnancy are completely incompatible.
Drinking alcohol in an interesting position can bring a lot of troubles, namely:
- delayed mental and physical development of the fetus;
- the likelihood of having a baby with severe defects of internal organs;
- increased risk of having a child with genetic disorders;
- a significant decrease in the mother’s body’s ability to absorb vitamins and microelements (in particular zinc and folic acid):
- the risk of constant fetal hypoxia with all its consequences.
All these serious troubles are all the more likely the more often a woman drank immediately before conception, regardless of whether she did not know about pregnancy or knew.
Remember!
There is no safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy. It should not be consumed in any quantity. Even the smallest dose can affect the fetus, and to what extent it is impossible to predict. You shouldn’t reassure yourself that your neighbor Masha drank a lot of alcohol and gave birth to a healthy baby. This is more of a rare coincidence than any kind of pattern.
What to do if a woman, not knowing that she was pregnant, drank alcohol
You can read lectures about the dangers of alcohol during pregnancy endlessly. Anyone who wants to find an excuse and continue in the same spirit will find it. What to do if you drink alcohol without knowing about pregnancy, we’ll try to figure it out below.
The opinions and reviews of doctors, including the authoritative pediatrician Komarovsky, agree that a single dose of alcohol, even in medium doses, has virtually no effect on either the possibility of conception or the fetus itself. But if a woman has been drinking alcohol regularly for a long time (you shouldn’t picture a ragged, drunken alcoholic now in your imagination - weekly consumption of several glasses of wine or 100-150 grams of stronger alcohol is considered regular), then the consequences can be very serious!
After all, alcohol can damage embryos at the conception stage, affect the chromosomal composition and genetic material and provoke the so-called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. And even though the incidence of such deviations, according to statistics, is only 2 cases per 1000 newborn babies, it is still not worth the risk.
The best option is to stop drinking alcohol for the entire period of pregnancy planning. But if it happened that you drank alcohol, not knowing about your interesting situation, but not often and in small quantities, then you should not worry. And also there is no need to do anything. You don’t need to take any additional tests; your doctor will prescribe everything you need when registering for pregnancy.
Carry your happiness calmly, enjoy this unique state, but giving up all bad habits will not be superfluous.
Regardless of the fact that a woman becomes pregnant again, this period in her life is the most important. The life of the baby she is about to give birth to, like her own life, is largely determined by these next nine months.
That is why it is so important to monitor your health at this time, eat right, exclude various products with dyes and other chemicals, and not drink alcohol during the 2nd week of pregnancy and during the subsequent pregnancy.
Situations often happen that a woman led a lifestyle that had already become familiar - parties, birthdays, corporate events. At the same time, she did not know that she was pregnant, but she was drinking alcohol. Naturally, having learned that she is pregnant, the expectant mother begins to worry about how the alcohol she consumed in the first days of pregnancy will affect the child. More on this later.
Early pregnancy and alcohol
In the first weeks of pregnancy, alcohol is contraindicated. Mention should be made of fetal alcohol syndrome (fetus is Latin for “fetus”). This medical term includes many symptoms that a child receives from birth and remains with him throughout his life. All signs are divided into three groups: lack of weight and height, brain disorders (mental dysfunction, pathologies of vision and hearing, developmental delay), unattractive appearance.
The baby has a whole bunch of concomitant diseases. This syndrome is incurable. When a baby gets this syndrome at birth, you can create ideal conditions for him as much as you like, but he will never become healthy again.
And if the mother drank in the first weeks of pregnancy, then this fact is fraught with consequences. Drinking alcohol at the beginning of the maternity period is extremely undesirable. If you drink at such a moment, then this fact will either not manifest itself in any way, or the fetus will be rejected.
Some doctors claim that if you drink in the first two weeks after conception, there will be no particular risk. This is not true and should not be trusted. Until the 10th day, the fetus has not yet been implanted into the mother’s body, therefore alcohol, nicotine, toxins or drugs cannot significantly affect it. However, already at the 3rd week of pregnancy, the risk of consequences begins, since it is during this period that many organs of the unborn baby begin to develop.
What are the harms of alcohol taken by the mother in the first trimester of pregnancy? Dangerous substances from alcohol disrupt the balance of fetal development. The placenta does not help in such a situation; alcohol is transferred to the fetus through the blood. Not only ethanol causes harm, but also the breakdown product – acetaldehyde.
From the 4th week of pregnancy, further development and improvement of the baby’s organs continues. Alcohol may interfere with important fetal functions.
Of course, a glass or two of wine usually will not lead to irreversible results. But a larger amount of alcohol and its quality, the strength of the baby’s future body can affect it. Therefore, in the first weeks of pregnancy after conception, it is better to be patient and drink juice when everyone drinks stronger drinks, so that in the future you will not have to think with regret about your carelessness.
If the mother drank while she was already pregnant, then there is no need to panic. The best solution would be to give up all existing bad habits for the remaining period in order to minimize the risk of pathologies.
Alcohol in the first days after conception
It would be a big misconception to believe that drinking alcohol after conception is not harmful. This conclusion is largely based on the fact that the placenta has not yet formed and the growing embryo is not yet nourished by the mother. But this is not entirely true.
Even a minimum dose of alcohol can cause irreparable harm to a pregnancy, simply ending it. Therefore, you should stop drinking strong drinks even on the eve of conception, and both should do this: both the expectant mother and the future father, if they want to see their child beautiful, healthy and, most importantly, strong.
Alcohol consumption can lead to disaster during the subsequent weeks of pregnancy: when the embryo is fixed and its intrauterine development has begun. In such a situation, consequences are already inevitable, these include various pathologies and deformities. Knowledge of this fact is very important in the process of gestation, since for the fetus this time period is the most difficult, dangerous, but no less important.
If a mother drinks regularly, the baby runs the risk of being born with alcohol syndrome, which can cripple the life of both the child and all his caregivers. In particular, the mother will carry the burden of guilt for the rest of her life.
Many studies prove that fetal underdevelopment due to AS can occur from as little as four drinks of alcohol per day. Slightly fewer abnormalities may occur with two daily drinks. But here we need a completely different approach to the problem: not to restrain ourselves in quantitative terms, but to give up even a tiny portion of alcohol completely.
Alcohol is extremely undesirable even in the first days after conception. Failure to understand this by the expectant mother will lead to the development of severe defects in the embryo, which will cause either the termination of the pregnancy or the reproduction of non-viable offspring.
Alcohol in the first week after conception
During the first week after conception, the fertilized egg travels to the uterine cavity through the fallopian tube. In the process of movement, the egg manages to begin to actively divide and already arrives in the uterine cavity in the form of a cluster of many cells.
As noted above, alcohol during the first days of gestation and in the subsequent period of time has the gravest harm, that is, it causes the death of an already fertilized egg. To understand the mechanism of its influence on pregnancy, we should recall the stages of embryonic development.
After the egg is fertilized by the fastest sperm, it chooses a course of movement to the fallopian tube, where the endometrium is already prepared for its implantation. Growing into the lining of the uterus, the fertilized egg continues the process of division.
When dividing, some of the cells of the egg will produce a fleecy membrane called the chorion, from which the placenta will be created in the future. The implantation stage indicates that a stable connection is formed between the egg and the mother’s body. Alcohol consumed by the mother in the first weeks will, in any case, penetrate the egg. If a woman abuses it, then it will not be surprising that she will have a miscarriage in the near future.
Two weeks of pregnancy and alcohol
Alcohol during the 2nd week of pregnancy is no less dangerous. In the first week of pregnancy (closer to the end) and in the second from the moment of conception, the egg begins to grow into the uterine wall, where the chorion is formed. This membrane is also called the outer branched membrane, with the help of which the fertilized egg is attached to the wall of the uterus.
During the first 2 weeks, embryonic tissue does not lay down as such. However, even at this time, the fertilized egg is very vulnerable due to its weakness and defenselessness, so there should be no talk of “if you drink.” Alcohol will either destroy the embryo, therefore, the fertilized egg will die, or will not have any effect on the fetus and its further development, to the great joy of the expectant mother.
In most cases, the early stages of pregnancy are asymptomatic, so a woman can understand her situation only by whether her next menstruation occurs. And a lot of time may pass before this event.
If a woman drank during the 2nd week of pregnancy, then such an oversight can result in the fetus developing anencephaly (the absence of some parts of the brain, sometimes all). An unborn child may also have a pathology such as spina bifida. Most likely, you will not be pleased with the news of Down syndrome and many other defects.
In addition, children whose mothers drank alcohol in the first days and weeks of pregnancy have a lag in intellectual and physical development. Such babies often exhibit increased excitability of the nervous system, disorders in the genitourinary system (enuresis), visual and hearing disorders and other abnormalities.
3 weeks pregnant and alcohol
From the third to thirteenth week of pregnancy, all organs gradually begin to develop. Therefore, there should be no alcohol consumption during the 3rd week of pregnancy.
Further developmental progress is associated with the fact that organogenesis begins already at the beginning of the fourth week after conception. It indicates that the formation of the most important vital organs and systems, especially the nervous system, occurs in the embryo at this moment of development. During this period of time, the neural tube appears, from which the brain and spinal cord will form in the future.
Since this is a period of organogenesis, alcohol in the third week can cause the appearance of one or another malformation. Which one will be largely determined by the time of exposure to the unfavorable factor.
And even if a woman drinks alcohol infrequently and in moderation during the 3rd week of pregnancy, there is a risk that this will cause subsequent changes in the child’s brain, the damage from which may not appear immediately.
Getting into the blood, alcohol first causes deformations of the vascular system and liver, brain structures, and then an imbalance in overall development. The mental abilities of a baby whose mother drank alcohol while in the third month of pregnancy will also lag behind those of their peers.
4 weeks pregnant and drinking alcohol
Alcohol in the fourth week of gestation is very dangerous. It may be the only reason why a baby will appear with developmental pathologies. The latter fact can cause spontaneous abortion. The formation of all systems, organs and tissues occurs at an intensive pace in week 4, so alcohol will have a negative effect in any case.
Alcohol, which is a very toxic substance, will cause severe changes and exclude the possibility of a favorable pregnancy. The risk that a child will be born with defects and other abnormalities may suddenly increase. Therefore, women who want to give birth to a healthy, smart, beautiful baby must certainly take care of their own health, eliminating even the thought of drinking alcohol from the very first days and weeks of pregnancy.
The best option would be if parents prepare for pregnancy in advance and plan it. There will be no surprises here. During this period of time, it is important to balance the diet of the expectant mother. Meals in the fourth week should consist exclusively of natural products containing all trace elements and vitamins. Smoked foods, salty foods, semi-finished and canned foods, fatty foods, and all sweets should be a thing of the past.
It is excellent when a woman consciously refuses “artificial” foods, including various dyes, fragrances, flavors, as well as carbonated drinks (which also often contain dyes and additives).
The key to the future health of a newborn is food, including milk porridge, raw fruits and vegetables. At such a time, it is better not to think about diets, if they previously took place in the mother’s life. A lack of essential valuable substances can have a detrimental effect on the formation and growth of the embryo.
Pregnancy in the first month and alcohol
In the first month of pregnancy, the harm of alcohol is 200% in quantitative terms from a medical point of view.
The danger from alcohol lies in the fact that the fetus simply does not survive to the required moment of development, the pregnancy may be terminated, and if the child is born, it may have various defects.
This is what can await women who do not take control of their own whims in time.
In the first month after conception, the harm of alcohol is immeasurable. The formation of the most important organs in the baby’s future body is underway. Even a tiny portion of beer, wine or vodka can have a detrimental effect on the balance of embryo formation and stimulate the occurrence of abnormalities in some organs.
Such deviations may be:
- Inoperability of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Defects of the respiratory system and, in particular, the lungs.
- Underdevelopment of the urinary system.
- Defects in the nervous system.
The most terrible consequence of drinking alcohol in the first thirty days of pregnancy is anomalies in the development of the neural fetal tube. The consequence of such anomalies may be underdevelopment of the brain or the appearance of spina bifida.
In Rus' there was a law prohibiting alcohol and smoking on the important day of the newlyweds and before the onset of first intimacy. Surely such a measure was not accidental.
Thank you for your feedback
Comments
Megan92 () 2 weeks ago
Has anyone succeeded in ridding their husband of alcoholism? My drink never stops, I don’t know what to do anymore ((I was thinking about getting a divorce, but I don’t want to leave the child without a father, and I feel sorry for my husband, he’s a great person when he doesn’t drink
Daria () 2 weeks ago
I have already tried so many things, and only after reading this article, I was able to wean my husband off alcohol; now he doesn’t drink at all, even on holidays.
Megan92 () 13 days ago
Daria () 12 days ago
Megan92, that’s what I wrote in my first comment) I’ll duplicate it just in case - link to article.
Sonya 10 days ago
Isn't this a scam? Why do they sell on the Internet?
Yulek26 (Tver) 10 days ago
Sonya, what country do you live in? They sell it on the Internet because stores and pharmacies charge outrageous markups. In addition, payment is only after receipt, that is, they first looked, checked and only then paid. And now they sell everything on the Internet - from clothes to TVs and furniture.
Editor's response 10 days ago
Sonya, hello. This drug for the treatment of alcohol dependence is indeed not sold through pharmacy chains and retail stores in order to avoid inflated prices. Currently you can only order from official website. Be healthy!
Sonya 10 days ago
I apologize, I didn’t notice the information about cash on delivery at first. Then everything is fine if payment is made upon receipt.
