subject: Fetal Results Of Maternal On Alcohol Dependency [print this page] Tiny hands, tiny feet, a mild beat is what you can see and feel when undergoing an ultrasound. The first time parents see theirunborn child, they typically would have mixed emotions.
Being pregnant is a vulnerable phase in a woman's life.Nutritional vitamin supplements should be taken to ensure the health of the fetus. When a pregnant woman is abusing alcohol and drugs especially during this time, there will be adverse effects not only to herself but to the being inside her womb.
For women who are not aware they are expecting a baby and have consumed lots of alcohol or abused drugs, there will be a great probability that their baby would have developmental or physical issues. This is why it is essential to find rehabilitation centers especially for pregnant women. There is a solution, alcohol rehab facility is available to offer great services for pregnant women suffering from alcohol and drug abuse.
According to studies, the abuse of alcohol and drugs affect not only the mother but it affects the unborn child even more. It shows that 40,000 babies delivered in the U.S each year have a certain defect or problem that is associated with maternal abuse of alcohol and drugs during pregnancy. This is usually categorized as fetal alcohol syndrome disorder.
So how does alcohol and drug abuse affect the fetus anyway? Let us start with alcohol, this substance inhibits the formation of the cell membrane and in the long run creates cell death within the fetus. With the destruction of these cells, the different parts of the fetus develop abnormally. Aside from that, the nerve cells in the brain along with other organs are damaged. Considering that drinking alcohol also constricts blood vessels, the nutrients including oxygen entering the fetal environment is reduced. Babies born to alcoholic mothers usually have low birth weight, hearing, sleeping and eating problems.
On the other hand, when a mother abuses drugs, there are certain effects that are correlated to the fetal growth these include the following: lowered birth weight, slow growth and development. There are also certain drugs that increase the probability of congenital heart disease, cleft palates, club foot and other congenital abnormalities.
With that said, maternal substance abuse exclusively to cocaine result in a small head circumference, a high chance of fetal stroke and defects of the urinary tract. This is why it is essential for pregnant women who suffer from drug abuse to get help from a rehabilitation facility. There is almost always a drug addiction rehab center available in your area that help women that are pregnant get better not only for their unborn children but for themselves as well.
Alcohol dependence and substance abuse by pregnant mothers has detrimental effects. These effects are more focused to the unborn child; therefore it's of utmost important for a mother to obtain treatments for this problem.
