Drinking During Pregnancy Research Paper

As stated in the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, “One in every twenty women take street drugs and apply harm to their body during pregnancy.” Whether it is within the first trimester or third trimester, it can still affect the outcome of the baby. Drinking, smoking, and causing harm to the body can lead to other complications during pregnancy. It may not seem as if it is a big deal at the time, but drugs, alcohol, and an unhealthy lifestyle can later be the cause of a lifetime disorder for the baby. Because the choices a mother makes during pregnancy affects her and her baby’s health before, during, and after childbirth, it is important for mothers to make informed choices. The use of alcohol during pregnancy can cause a

476). There are many problems that can cause the baby great harm when drinking during the pregnancy. Delyse Hutchinson, a senior research fellow, insinuates that prenatal exposure to alcohol increases the risk for physical cognitive, behavioral and psychological deficits in children, with the most severe outcomes associated with heavy and chronic alcohol consumption. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy affects the development of the brain as well as the structure of the fetus (NIAAA). Based on research by the NIAAA, the diagnosis for FASD includes a malfunction involving the central nervous system and three specific problematic patterns of facial abnormalities: narrow eye openings, a smooth area between the lip and the nose, and a thin upper lip. Daily challenges may be faced in the life of a child diagnosed with this disorder. NIAAA notes that “an individual diagnosed with FASD may experience challenges that include medical, behavioral, educational, and social problems.” The child may struggle with learning and