Small amounts of alcohol consumption in pregnant women can also affect the facial development of children

pregnancy, even citing a small amount of alcohol seems to have a subtle effect on the development of the fetus' face, including the shape of the fetus' eyes, nose and lips. Although, this may not be harmful.
"It's not clear whether small changes in the fetus' face are related to developmental changes in other parts." We plan to study this issue as children grow up. Jane Halliday of the Murdoch Children's Institute in Australia, who conducted the study, said.
it has been known that heavy drinking during pregnancy can trigger fetal ethanol syndrome, which can dramatically alter the facial features of the fetus, leading to smoothness in the nose and in people. Halliday says children with the syndrome may experience attention and behavioral disorders, as well as lower IQs.
to find out if small amounts of alcohol could also have such an effect, Halliday's team surveyed 1,570 women who expected and gave birth, 27 percent of whom said they had consumed small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy.
when their children reached the age of one, the team used multiple cameras to take photos of 415 children at different angles and then synthesized them using computer software to produce detailed 3D models. The researchers then analyzed the facial details of children of mothers who drank and did not drink during pregnancy and found weak changes, such as shorter noses and slightly higher nostrils.
, the researchers also found changes in other factors that may affect facial features, such as weight. As a result, even low-level drinking - for example, no more than two drinks at a time and no more than seven drinks a week - can change the face of the fetus. The papers are published in
Journal.
, it seems that moms don't have to worry too much. These changes may only be shown by imaging techniques and are invisible to the naked eye. And, Halliday says, these effects may not last long because the baby's face has changed significantly in the first two years. But scientists also point out that people don't know the minimum threshold for drinking, so pregnant women are advised to avoid drinking best. (Source: Science Network Tang One Dust)