THE EFFECTS OF MODERATE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION DURING PREGNANCY ON FETAL GROWTH AND MORPHOGENESIS

Abstract

Although heavy alcohol consumption during pregnancy has been widely recognized as a serious risk to the exposed fetus, previous studies have not indicated the magnitude of risk which may be associated with consumption of moderate amounts of alcohol. As a part of a larger study of pregnancy and health in 1529 mothers. Information on maternal alcohol intake during the month preceding pregnancy and during the first five months of pregnancy, was collected. At the time of delivery, 97 infants born to women who drank an average of one ounce of ethanol or more per day, in the month prior to pregnancy or during the first five months of pregnancy, were selected. For each infant, a control infant whose mother drank a lesser amount of alcohol was selected. Each received a clinical evaluation without knowledge as to maternal drinking history. Of eleven infants judged clinically to show signs compatible with a prenatal effect of alcohol on growth and morphogenesis, nine were found to be from the high risk drinking group. Two of these infants, from the heaviest drinking mothers, had the fetal alcohol syndrome. The other seven infants, who showed lesser alterations of growth and morphogenesis, were born to women who drank moderate amounts of alcohol during the earliest part of pregnancy. Most of these women were found to be “binge” drinkers. These results indicate that moderate levels of alcohol intake during early pregnancy, may result in significant alterations of growth and morphogenesis in the fetus. “Binge” drinking may represent an additional risk factor for the fetus.

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