Alcohol drinking before pregnancy leads to intestinal birth defects in babies, a new research shows.
Researchers at the Loyola Health University System found that drinking months before pregnancy leads to severe gastroschisis. It is a medical condition that affects the abdominal wall of newborns.
For the study, the researchers interviewed 36 women who gave birth to babies with gastroschisis and 76 women without the medical condition. They found that drinking alcohol one month before conceiving and during the first trimester leads to gastrochisis.
However, the researchers did not find any link between gastroschisis and poor maternal nutrition or vasoactive stimulants such as tobacco or illicit drugs.
The researchers said that women of all ages are prone to gastroschisis.
"A woman can conceive at any point in her cycle, so women should avoid alcohol well in advance of becoming pregnant," Jean Goodman, MD, lead investigator, division director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Loyola University Health System, said in a press release.
"We recommend that women begin taking folic acid supplements starting three months prior to conception. This is an ideal time to refrain from alcohol use as well because you are in the mindset of preparing your body for pregnancy."
Researchers also stated that drinking alcohol is also tied to increased risk of mental development delays, cardiac anomalies and facial clefting in babies.
"Preconception programs focused on alcohol abstinence may help to reverse the increasing incidence of this birth defect worldwide," said Dr. Goodman, who also is a professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
This data was presented recently at the 2014 Society for Reproductive Investigation 61st Annual Scientific Meeting in Florence, Italy.
