What Is The Link Between Alcohol Use During Pregnancy And Facial Changes In Children?

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Alcohol in the mother's blood passes to the baby via the umbilical cord. Miscarriage, stillbirth, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), commonly known as foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), can result from alcohol use during pregnancy [1].

In a recent study, alcohol use during pregnancy was associated with changes in the facial appearance of the child.

Alcohol Use During Pregnancy Related to Changes in a Child's Face

During pregnancy, there is no safe time to consume alcohol. Alcohol can cause problems for the unborn baby throughout the pregnancy, including before the mother is aware that she is pregnant. Alcohol consumption during the first three months of pregnancy can lead to an abnormal appearance in the baby [2].

During pregnancy, even small amounts of alcohol can cause permanent changes to a child's facial features and possibly cognitive abilities.

This study suggests that low-to-moderate maternal alcohol consumption up to three months before and during pregnancy may be associated with children's facial appearance, as stated by the researchers in their conclusion.

With the aid of 3D imaging and a deep learning algorithm, the researchers analysed 200 traits in the faces of more than 5,600 school-aged children. They found a difference between children whose mothers drank alcohol during pregnancy and those who did not.

Researchers concluded that pregnant women or those who are planning to become pregnant soon should stop drinking several months prior to conception and completely during pregnancy in order to reduce the risk of adverse health outcomes for their unborn children.

• It has been found that drinking just 12 grams of alcohol per week - equivalent to one standard drink - can permanently alter a child's appearance [3].
• Children whose mothers did not consume any alcohol during pregnancy had chins that protruded further than children whose mothers did not consume any alcohol during pregnancy.

• Additionally, exposure to alcohol during pregnancy was associated with a shorter nose and a slight regression of the area beneath the eyes.
• During gestation, the more alcohol consumed by the mothers, the more noticeable the changes in their facial appearance were.
• With age, the effect of alcohol appeared to weaken, with the facial changes in the 13-year-old group being less prominent than those of the nine-year-olds.

Effects Of Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy

When a pregnant woman consumes alcohol, the umbilical cord carries alcohol from the mother to her child. It is known as foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) that alcohol use during pregnancy can result in a miscarriage, stillbirth and a range of lifelong physical, behavioural, and intellectual disabilities. FASDs may result in the following characteristics and behaviours in children [4][5]:

• Abnormal facial features
• Small head size
• Sleep and sucking problems as a baby
• Heart, kidney, or bone problems
• Low body weight
• Poor coordination
• Hyperactive behaviour
• Difficulty with attention
• Poor memory
• Difficulty in school
• Learning disabilities
• Speech and language delays
• Intellectual disability or low IQ
• Poor reasoning and judgement skills
• Vision or hearing problems

On A Final Note...

Contact your healthcare provider or local alcohol treatment facility if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant and cannot stop drinking.