Intake of Alcohol Before Pregnancy Tied to Intestinal Birth Defect

A new study reveals an association between alcohol used months before conception to increased risk of intestinal birth defects.

Researchers at the Loyola University Health System claim that women should refrain from consuming alcohol months before pregnancy as they found that alcohol leads to severe gastroschisis, a birth defect of the abdominal wall in infants.

"A woman can conceive at any point in her cycle, so women should avoid alcohol well in advance of becoming pregnant," said Jean Goodman, MD, lead investigator, division director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Loyola University Health System. "We recommend that women begin taking folic acid supplements starting three months prior to conception. This is an ideal time to refrain from alcohol use as well because you are in the mindset of preparing your body for pregnancy."

Studies in the past have linked alcohol to an increased risk of mental delays, cardiac anomalies and facial clefting in babies. This is one of the few studies that highlight the increased risk of gastroschisis, a condition that is identified during ultrasound.

For the study, the researchers surveyed 36 women who gave birth to infants with the intestinal birth defect. They also surveyed 76 women who gave birth to healthy babies without the defect.

On examining the subjects, the researchers identified a strong association between intake of alcohol one month prior to conception or during the trimester before women knew they were pregnant and gastroschisis

This defect was not age bound as women of all ages, races and financial background were susceptible to this condition.

Gastroschisis is a type of hernia in which the baby's intestine sticks outside his body.  Due to this, the baby has a hole in his abdominal wall. The hole forms near the umbical cord and is detected during early pregnancy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1,871 babies are born every year in the U.S. with gastroschisis. Studies in the past have linked the intake of asprin to an increased risk of gastroschisis.

However there was no association found between gastroschisis and poor maternal nutrition or use of other stimulants such as tobacco or any other illicit drug.

During ultrasound, if the intestinal birth defect is identified, the pregnancy is closely monitored in order to maintain good health of the unborn.  A careful delivery and surgery is conducted for the infant during birthing. Though prognosis of the babies after surgery is positive, the rise in the occurrence of intestinal birth defect is global health concern.

"Preconception programs focused on alcohol abstinence may help to reverse the increasing incidence of this birth defect worldwide," said Dr. Goodman, who also is a professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.

The finding was presented recently at the 2014 Society for Reproductive Investigation 61st Annual Scientific Meeting in Florence, Italy.