Yes, I admit it. I call myself a feminist, not without a certain pride. I am for equal rights for women, against sexual discrimination, for self-determination over one's own body and the right to decide for or against a pregnancy. But I am consistently against the right to drink alcohol during pregnancy. Wait a minute! How does that fit together? How can I fly the feminist flag and at the same time forbid pregnant women to have a glass of Prosecco? Being pregnant is hard enough as it is, so you should be allowed to indulge now and again? The problem is that, as much as I support a woman's right to self-determination, the guiding principle of my life is:

"Everyone should be happy in their own way, as long as they do not harm anyone else".

FAS and FASD 

And that is exactly the point. Alcohol harms the unborn child. Not after one glass, but after the first sip. The alcohol absorbed by the mother can pass through the placenta and the baby's blood-brain barrier. After about two hours, the baby's blood alcohol level is the same as the mother's. However, the unborn baby's liver is not yet functional. The baby cannot metabolize the alcohol in the same way as the mother and is therefore exposed to the effects of alcohol for longer. One small sip for the mother and the foetus experiences a binge. Alcohol is a nerve poison. And because the nervous system of the unborn child is still developing, it is particularly vulnerable to damage from alcohol exposure. The disorders caused by alcohol during pregnancy are grouped together under the term fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), which also includes fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Foetal alcohol syndrome involves the simultaneous presence of growth retardation, typical facial features, behavioural problems and deficits in mental development. If only damage to the nervous system occurs, this is known as alcohol-related neurological damage (ARND). The damage caused by alcohol during pregnancy does not regress, so the children will suffer from these impairments for the rest of their lives. There is currently no hope of a cure. People with FAS or FASD often have difficulties in school, work and everyday life. Their impulse control, the ability to abstract and generalise information, is particularly affected. They lack the neurological basis for learning from experience. Many people are dependent on help and care from others for the rest of their lives.

How much alcohol is harmful to the unborn child?

Studies have not yet been able to establish a lower limit for alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Nor does there seem to be any connection between the dose and the extent of neurological development problems. This means that even small amounts can lead to serious problems. The only advice that can be given is to avoid alcohol altogether during pregnancy. 

For more information about FASD and FAS, I recommend the website of National FASD Organisation. An information portal for affected, relatives and professionals.