During pregnancy, the baby always drinks with you

Abstaining from alcohol during pregnancy is still not a matter of course. According to the German Center for Addiction Issues, every 5th woman in Germany drinks alcohol during this time. One of the reasons for this is ignorance of the fact that even small amounts of alcohol can harm the developing baby. The myth that "a glass can't do any harm" persists in our society - but there is no such thing as risk-free alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Because the liver is still immature, the unborn child needs around 10 times longer to break down the alcohol than the mother. This can lead to lasting damage: Alcohol in early pregnancy causes serious physical damage, and later in pregnancy can lead to growth disorders, mental development disorders and nervous abnormalities.

Malformations are preventable

This damage is summarized under the term FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder), which is the most common congenital, non-genetic disorder. Nationwide, around 10,000 children are born with FASD every year, and many of those affected have lifelong behavioral problems. Around 3,000 children a year have the severe form - fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which can be accompanied by malformations of the skeleton, extremities and face as well as kidney damage or heart defects. As the first few weeks of pregnancy are particularly important for the healthy development of the baby, it is recommended to avoid alcohol as early as the family planning stage - it is not uncommon for women to worry about their child when they find out they are pregnant because they had consumed alcohol just a few days before.

Wishes of the local contact persons

Local stakeholders continuously provide information on the topic of FASD with joint campaigns - such as at the beginning of September in front of the Rewe supermarket in Winzerla. They used alcohol-free cocktails to promote abstaining from alcohol during pregnancy. Mandatory labeling on alcoholic beverages stating that they are not suitable for pregnant women would be desirable. There is also a lack of an admission option for detoxification for pregnant women with alcohol problems within 24 hours. A lot of persuasion is still needed here.

Many offers of help in Jena

Some pregnant women find it very difficult to stop drinking alcohol for various reasons. Fear and shame often prevent them from seeking the help they need. The clean4us project at the Clinic for Obstetrics has been specially set up to support pregnant women who use addictive substances and supports them in confidence with its family-preserving approach on the way to a healthy life together. The SiT addiction counseling center and the Jena Social Psychiatric Service also take the special needs of pregnant women into account in their services.

Have the courage to seek help - because FASD is 100 percent preventable.