Drinking Minimal Amounts of <br />Alcohol During Pregnancy, Affects Fetal Brain, , Study Finds.<br />Drinking Minimal Amounts of <br />Alcohol During Pregnancy, Affects Fetal Brain, , Study Finds.<br />The study was conducted by researchers at the Medical University of Vienna. .<br />The researchers will present their findings at the upcoming Radiological Society of North America's annual meeting.<br />According to the study, a single alcoholic drink in a week during pregnancy can be detrimental to the fetal brain.<br />It found that occasional drinking can alter the part of the fetal brain that will be eventually used in social skills and the interpretation of language.<br />It might be a very small risk associated with every glass you might drink during pregnancy, , Dr. Marlene Stuempflen, Study Co-Author, <br />via Insider.<br />... but you never know if that may be the one that pushes you over the edge, Dr. Marlene Stuempflen, Study Co-Author, <br />via Insider.<br />While the study was small, researchers used real-time fetal brain imaging to collect their data.<br />We really put an emphasis on generating a very structured and very unbiased dataset and collection of patients, Dr. Marlene Stuempflen, Study Co-Author, <br />via Insider.<br />The study found that the development of fetal brains was slower in some mothers who drank occasionally.<br />In addition, the fetal brains in mothers who occasionally drank could develop smoothness and were more symmetrical.<br />The most surprising thing to me was that fetuses who were exposed to a relatively low amount of alcohol developed this symmetrical brain, Dr. Patric Kienast, Study Lead Author, <br />via Insider.<br />That means that less than one drink a week, we already saw these effects, Dr. Patric Kienast, Study Lead Author, <br />via Insider.<br />Doctors have cautioned against heavy drinking during pregnancy for some time.<br />We know that prenatal alcohol exposure is the most important contributing factor to preventable cognitive impairments in children and, later on, adults, Dr. Marlene Stuempflen, Study Co-Author, <br />via Insider
