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What Is The Likelihood That A Child Will Have Mental Retardation If Mother Had A Binge Drinking Episode?
Question: What is the likelihood that a child will have significant mental retardation if the child's mother had a binge drinking episode (more than 10 drinks on one occasion) about 2 weeks after the baby was conceived?
Hi,
Thanks for writing to health care magic.
I can understand your concern.
It is very difficult to estimate if the baby is effected or not. Some times a mother may consume alcohol for a long time during pregnancy and the baby may not have any problem. Some times a mother may consume small quantities of alcohol and the baby may have problems.
If the mother is still pregnant the best thing to do now is stop drinking alcohol.
She should attend the routine antenatal visits.
She should also stop worrying of what already happened because that may also affect the unborn baby. She should consume a healthy diet XXXXXXX in fruits and vegetables.
Regarding mental retardation it is not possible to estimate the changes or prognosticate. As already mentioned some babies may have no features of damage.
Continue to ask further queries as required.
Hope this helps.
Take care.
Dr Y V Siva Sankara Murty
M.D.(Pediatrics)
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Thanks for writing to health care magic.
I can understand your concern.
It is very difficult to estimate if the baby is effected or not. Some times a mother may consume alcohol for a long time during pregnancy and the baby may not have any problem. Some times a mother may consume small quantities of alcohol and the baby may have problems.
If the mother is still pregnant the best thing to do now is stop drinking alcohol.
She should attend the routine antenatal visits.
She should also stop worrying of what already happened because that may also affect the unborn baby. She should consume a healthy diet XXXXXXX in fruits and vegetables.
Regarding mental retardation it is not possible to estimate the changes or prognosticate. As already mentioned some babies may have no features of damage.
Continue to ask further queries as required.
Hope this helps.
Take care.
Dr Y V Siva Sankara Murty
M.D.(Pediatrics)
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your response. I know it is hard to ascertain whether mental retardation has occurred as a result of drinking during pregnancy, as some children may not have problems if their mothers drink and some may have problems.
Can we at least say whether it is more likely than not that significant mental retardation would result, if the consumption alcohol (although binge drinking) was limited to the first few weeks after conception?
Or are you saying that the damage to the fetal brain is already done at 2-3 weeks after conception?
Can we at least say whether it is more likely than not that significant mental retardation would result, if the consumption alcohol (although binge drinking) was limited to the first few weeks after conception?
Or are you saying that the damage to the fetal brain is already done at 2-3 weeks after conception?
Hi,
I can understand your concern. But it is very difficult to make a such a comment. One cannot predict the outcome here. Making such a prediction is not possible.
The best thing that can be done now is remain tension free and attend the routine antenatal visits.
Hope this helps.
Take care.
I can understand your concern. But it is very difficult to make a such a comment. One cannot predict the outcome here. Making such a prediction is not possible.
The best thing that can be done now is remain tension free and attend the routine antenatal visits.
Hope this helps.
Take care.
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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