Pregnancy is a magical time when your body goes through so many changes that nobody can seem to explain. Your boobs get bigger, you crave weird food combinations, and the little miracle growing inside of you makes you glow like an angel. But, for all the wonderful things about pregnancy, there are also quite a few restrictions.
One of these restrictions is alcohol—yes, it's forbidden in case anyone missed the memo on this one. But not only is drinking during pregnancy bad for your baby’s health, but it’s also harmful for yours in different ways. Therefore, if abstaining from alcoholic beverages isn’t something you’ve been considering already – then maybe it should be.
How Much Is Too Much?
You might think that one glass now and again won't do any harm—or even help relieve stress—but unfortunately, there's no safe level of alcohol consumption while pregnant. Any amount could potentially damage your unborn child’s developing brain and organs along with causing mental or behavioral issues over their lifetime.
This information shouldn't give expectant mothers worry warts as consuming alcohol just once doesn’t necessarily lead straight to disaster-mode with your fetus' health outcomes—it depends on how often/alcohol percentage/how much consumed per sitting/etcetera—but why would any mother want to chance harming their little bundle-of-love?
The Side Effects
Two percent of infants born every year have some kind of disorder caused by prenatal exposure to high levels of ethanol (one form found in alcoholic beverages). Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) encompasses intellectual disabilities; physical anomalies like low birth weight or growth retardation- which affects both mom/Dad cuddle-time after-birth-, hyperactivity problems; impaired coordination plus hearing/visual difficulties brought on by developmental conditions related to substance use within prenatal periods according-to-the-US Department Of Health And Human services. Yikes!
Are You Still Under 21?
In the good old teenage years, you gained a rep for being able to drink anyone under the table! Your liver was fresh and could take on anything at any time with minimal effects the next day. “Puke once, rally twice…” was your mantra. If you're still not of legal age yet (which also means no drinking), think about your body just like it's yours after pregnancy.
An adolescent’s developing brain is so complex that consuming alcohol can cause lasting damage not only physically but cognitively as well! It doesn't matter if an individual is older than eighteen or closer-to-a-full-fleged-adult at twenty-one: impulse control isn’t fully developed until mid-twenties in human development – further indicating how detrimental even one drop might inflict upon themselves during developmental stages within adolescence.
Trick Or Treat?
It always seems everyone boasts an ‘old wives tale’ they've heard from family members or old co-workers to rely upon regarding health issues etc—even when medically untested/true…or some new-age vibe-only philosophy with questionable evidence backing its logic up—that add confusion when trying something anew like stopping their use of space-bars-&-drinks combined-but fun-lol-and-replace-with-addiction-in-the-end.
Don't get sucked into these nonsensical tales; there's no putzing around when drinking while pregnant—the disorder that FASD encompasses has concrete consequences which last for life.
So come Halloween, keep your hands off those witches' cauldron of Boos, stick to non-alcoholic cock-tease options -like pumpkin spice freak-shakes this holiday season- & leave Johnny Clucktail’s Hooch-Moonshine Cabaret before sunset hours roll-around lest anyone misstep into trouble wobbling back home later—LOL!
Reasons To Stop Drinking While Pregnant
If you're still not convinced that stopping drinking during pregnancy is the right decision for both mother and fetus, let's look at these reasons:
It Could Affect Your Baby’s Development
Each year, around one in 20 infants—just over five percent—are born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Children who are exposed to high levels of alcohol consumption while still inside the womb can experience developmental issues like impaired coordination, intellectual disabilities, hyperactivity problems along with hearing/visual difficulties brought on by developmental condition related to substance use within prenatal periods according–to-the-US Department Of Health And Human services. So give up that glass of wine or pint of beer for a baby who deserves the best chance at a healthy life.
No Alcoholic Drinks Are Safe
Some people might advise pregnant women that it’s OK to have an occasional glass of wine or beer without feeling guilty—they just want them join in on good-times-with-friends + party-vibes—But please listen: no amount whatsoever is safe. Avoid being lead astray by supposed-smart friends/off-beat online forums proclaiming small amounts as no harm done from their anecdotal reports/sources-that-offer-at-best-harm-reduction-strategies-rather-than-actual-evidence-based sci-fi-style-FDA announcements...the dangers caused far outweighs any pitiful attempts at quenching cravings/discomfort—that too shall pass!
You’ll Feel Healthier Too!!
Alcohol isn’t just bad news solely for your unborn child either; excessive consumption can take its toll away from pregnancy time too! Booze makes your liver work overtime yet damages other organs as well-including most significantly feet'n'ish-al systems such as brains & kidneys-. Abstaining from booze means less weight gain plus maternal complications —and stronger immune system? Sign me up!
Where To Go For Help?
It's never easy making difficult choices concerning mother + baby-safe/non-safe periods; there are resources that can help make the decision—if needed—with support health-care practitioners have knowledge of referring sources for individuals in need.
Not sure where to turn? Contact your midwife, healthcare provider, or seek someone experienced with pregnancy through public-health/community services' organizations. Remember: you always matter plus deserved safety/truth-based answers!