• Question: If you're addicted to alcohol, some people say your baby will be too. Is this true?

    Asked by meganhainsworth to Gemma on 19 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Gemma Sharp

      Gemma Sharp answered on 19 Jun 2011:

      If a mother takes a lot of drugs (including alcohol) during pregnancy, the baby may have Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) where they show withdrawal symptoms. This is more likely with drugs like heroine rather than alcohol though.

      Drinking large amounts of alcohol during pregnancy is really bad for the baby. They can develop mental and physical problems (known as Fetal Alcohol Sydrome). Alcohol gets into the baby’s blood stream from the mother via the placenta and can cause brain damage, stunted growth, and problems with the development of the face. When babies with fetal alcohol syndrome grow up they tend to have poor memory, attention deficits, and are more likely to have drug and drink problems themselves.

Comments