Alcohol and the fetus in the west of Scotland.

Abstract

Forty children with the fetal alcohol syndrome were identified in the west of Scotland. All were growth retarded and had abnormal facial features, and all those who were tested were found to have nuerological or developmental abnormalities. Two children died of associated physical defects. Most of the mothers were socially deprived, and all had drunk heavily while pregnant. Three women had subsequently died.These findings provide clear evidence that in the west of Scotland maternal alcohol abuse during pregnancy is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children.

Congenital Heart Defects and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

“…The 14 retrospective studies are summarized in Table 2 31–44 . The combined number was 1353 subjects and 450 had a CHD (33.3%) (95% CI 30.7% to 35.8%), ranging from 5.5% to 72.7%.…”

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: A Cautionary Note

“…In contrast to the relatively low levels of drinking reported in epidemiological studies of fetal alcohol syndrome (see below), where the incidence of the syndrome is about 1 per 1000 [11], the clinical case literature points to associations with much higher levels of consumption, ranging from over 14 drinks a day during pregnancy [12] to over 20 drinks [13][14]; a bottle of liquor a day [15]; a gallon of wine and a half case of beer every Friday and Saturday evening [16], three to four pints of liquor a day [17], two to three quarts of beer daily interspersed with an unknown amount of whiskey [17], and 1.5 quarts of beer per day for 7 years [18]. Many of these mothers have been described as drinking themselves "senseless" [19].…”

Effects of Ethanol Consumption during Pregnancy and Lactation on the Outcome and Postnatal Growth of the Offspring

“…At least 60% of the mothers in this study drank less than this amount. Most of the reported fetal alcohol syndrome series [4,[21][22][23][24] relate to mothers whose daily ethanol intake largely exceeded that of the mothers in our series.…”