Physicians have warned that women who consume alcohol during pregnancy risk having babies with microcephaly, a condition in which the infant’s head is significantly smaller than expected due to abnormal brain development. Medical experts stress that any amount of alcohol exposure can impair fetal brain development and lead to birth defects. In separate interviews with HealthWise, they emphasized that alcohol during pregnancy can affect every organ of the baby, including the heart, kidneys, and liver, and may result in premature labour, miscarriage, stillbirth, and a spectrum of developmental, physical, mental, and emotional disorders collectively known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
Dr. Stanley Egbogu, a consultant gynaecologist at Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital in Awka, Anambra, told our correspondent that “alcohol doesn’t serve any good to pregnant women.” He advised complete abstinence, stating that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Egbogu criticized women who underestimate the impact of alcohol and continue to drink, noting that many women who consume alcohol before pregnancy are likely to continue the habit after conception. He urged all pregnant women who still drink to stop immediately.
Dr. Makinde Akinlemibola, a general medical practitioner and Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (Lagos State chapter), echoed these concerns. He described the “terrible effects” of alcohol on both mother and unborn child, particularly on brain development. Akinlemibola attributed continued drinking among pregnant women to ignorance and addiction, and he recommended that anyone who drinks or smokes cease these habits several months before conception and maintain abstinence after delivery. From his experience, babies born to alcoholic mothers often exhibit stunted mental reasoning, incomplete development, and signs of withdrawal at birth. He condemned the myth that mixing alcohol with milk smooths a baby’s skin and urged all pregnant women to desist from drinking for the sake of their children.
Data from the American Addiction Centres indicate that alcohol consumption during pregnancy is the leading preventable cause of birth defects. The World Health Organization (WHO) concurs, stating that high alcohol intake can impair conception, cause pregnancy complications, and hinder fetal development. The WHO warns that the severity of outcomes depends on the frequency, pattern (especially binge drinking), and timing of exposure, with the first trimester being particularly critical. Consequently, the WHO affirms that no amount of alcohol can be considered safe during pregnancy.
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