Alcohol and Premature Birth

Living a healthy lifestyle is one of the best ways to reduce the possibility of premature birth. This is the reason why doctors recommend reducing the consumption of alcohol when a woman becomes pregnant.

Alcohol in the pregnant woman’s body

Alcohol in the pregnant woman’s body plays havoc on the development of the growing child inside her. Alcohol interferes with hormones and induces the body to have an earlier birth.

Excessive exposure to alcohol

The state University of New York studies suggest that excessive exposure to alcohol during pregnancy can reduce nerve activity in the brain.

At the same time, the abuse of alcohol is related to other risk factors of premature birth

• infections
• physical abuse
• drug abuse
• lack or absence of prenatal care
• poor nutrition

For example, alcohol use or alcohol abuse is associated with unprotected sex, which may make the woman contract sexually transmitted diseases such as Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and STD. An infection of the woman’s reproductive system can lead to premature birth.