OC10.03: Drinking even small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy could alter fetal brain structure.

A study published in the journal "Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology" found that even small amounts of alcohol consumed during pregnancy can alter fetal brain structure. The study involved 22 alcohol-exposed fetuses and 22 non-alcohol-exposed control fetuses, with the mothers reporting consuming less than 14 grams of alcohol per week. The results showed a significant reduction in neurotypical fetal brain asymmetry in the temporal lobes of alcohol-exposed fetuses, suggesting that alcohol exposure can impact brain development. These findings are consistent with the correlation between prenatal brain asymmetry and language development in childhood, often negatively affecting children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). [Extracted from the article]