Alcohol use during pregnancy has always been associated with birth defects and problems in newborns. Now, recent studies have concluded that there is a strong association between heart defects in babies that the father consumes, at least 3-6 months before conception.
Compared to non-drinkers, fathers who consume alcoholic beverages at least 3 months before the fetus is conceived have a 44% higher chance of giving birth to children with heart problems.
This is because alcohol causes changes in DNA and further in sperm activity and quality.
But mothers who drink too much alcohol within a short time before conception risk their babies 16% more than those who don't drink.
Excessive alcohol consumption is a major risk that not only increases your chances of having a baby with heart defects, but also damages your own health.
Of course no one can predict at what moment a baby can conceive but to be sure, but experts suggest that men should stop drinking alcohol at least 6 months before fertilization, and women 1 year before. And of course, avoid it categorically during pregnancy.
In previous studies, alcohol consumption while couples thought of a baby and heart defects were addressed to mothers, but in recent studies this effect is stronger for the father. Birth defects occur in 1 out of 33 babies and heart problems are the most common.
Source: CNN
