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A consultant pediatrician at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Dr. Michael Adeoye has warned that prenatal alcohol consumption can result in a range of problems in a newborn, known as a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
He stated that drinking alcohol during pregnancy can result in physical, cognitive, and behavioral issues that can last a lifetime after birth.
While emphasizing that there is no safe amount of alcohol to consume during pregnancy, the doctor described fetal alcohol spectrum disorder as a lifetime condition that can have a substantial influence on a child's development.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are a range of illnesses that can emerge in a person who has been exposed to alcohol before birth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The effects of the disorder can include behavioral and learning challenges, according to the CDC. Children with the disorder can have problems with learning, attention, memory, speech, language, and motor skills, according to the CDC. Speaking exclusively to reporters, the pediatrician said research has shown that even a small amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy can increase the risk of the disorder in newborns.
He clarified that alcohol can pass through the placenta and impact the developing baby's brain, leading to issues with the structure and functionality of the brain.
Adeoye continued, "The growth and development of the baby's other organs, like the heart and kidneys, can also be impacted by alcohol exposure during pregnancy."
