Drinking even small amounts of alcohol in pregnancy ‘changes the baby’s face’
Drinking even small amounts of alcohol can cause noticeable changes to the baby’s face during pregnancy, a new study has warned.
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics analysed the faces of 415 children – and found an association between alcohol use and the facial shape, even at low levels of alcohol consumption.
The facial defects include a slightly shorter, upturned nose – and are similar to anomalies associated with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
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The researchers say that the results mean that women should probably avoid alcohol altogether during pregnancy – even in small amounts.
The researchers write, ‘Of the 415 children in the study (195 girls and 220 boy), a consistent association between craniofacial shape and prenatal alcohol exposure was observed at almost any level regardless of whether exposure occurred only in the first trimester or throughout pregnancy.
‘Prenatal alcohol exposure, even at low levels, can influence craniofacial development. Although the clinical significance of these findings is yet to be determined, they support the conclusion that for women who are or may become pregnant, avoiding alcohol is the safest option.’
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