The New Straits Times, May 13, 1996
Q: Why should pregnant women refrain from taking alcohol during pregnancy?
A: The use of alcohol by women during pregnancy can result in a characteristic pattern seen in the foetus which can be considered as congenital abnormalities.
The pattern, also known as foetal alcohol syndrome, usually consists of anomalies of the head and face such as a small head, midfacial defects and a flattened, elongated vertical grooved the upper lip as well as neurological anomalies which are shown by reduction in the IQ by an average of 35 to 40 points below normal.
While human studies on the effect of high alcohol levels during pregnancy are rather limited, animal studies show that alcohol can be considered to be a potent teratogen.
From such studies, an increase in the incidence of stillbirths, resorptions and spontaneous abortions was noted when alcohol was given to pregnant animals.
One study on the harmful aspects of alcohol during pregnancy also showed that the risk and extent of abnormalities appear to be dose-related i.e. both increase with increase in the maternal alcohol intake.
It was found that high blood alcohol levels may produce malformations during the first trimester and growth retardation during the third trimester.
Thus pregnant mothers should be particularly conscious of the impact of drinking alcohol on the foetus. Since no safe level of drinking alcohol has been established to pregnant mothers, the best approach to adopt would be to refrain from drinking alcohol altogether during pregnancy.
On the other hand, women with chronic and sever drinking problems should be discouraged from becoming pregnant until the drinking problems are brought under control.
