Various theories have emerged over the years about the effects of alcohol on pregnancy. Certain official recommendations state that pregnant women should totally refrain from drinking alcohol, while others say that moderate or light drinking is acceptable. However, a study found that even moderate drinking during pregnancy can affect the IQ of a child.

How does alcohol affect a child’s IQ?

After ingestion of alcohol, enzymes will metabolize ethanol to acetaldehyde. However, the differences in the genes of people result to the variations on how enzymes metabolize ethanol. So, people who metabolize ethanol slowly have increased levels of alcohol that last longer than those who metabolize quickly. Experts believe that fast ethanol metabolism prevents damage to the brain development of infants as smaller amounts of alcohol are exposed to the fetus.

About the Study

The researchers used the study data of Children of the 90s (ALSPAC) which was participated by over 4,000 mothers and their children. The trial was first to use genetic variation (Mendelian randomization) in analyzing the effect of moderate drinking (less than 1 to 6 units of alcohol per week) of pregnant women on the IQ of their children. Genetic variation is ideal since every woman has a different DNA, which is not linked with lifestyle factors.

The studies showed that a strong link was found between a lower IQ at 8 years old and 4 genetic alternatives in the genes that metabolize alcohol in the 4,167 children. In each genetic modification of a child, the IQ was found to be 2 points lower in children whose mothers reported moderate alcohol drinking during their pregnancy. On the other hand, this link was not found among children whose mothers did not drink during pregnancy. This indicates that there is no direct relationship between the low IQ of a child and alcohol exposure in the womb.

At week 18, mothers answered questions about the average amount of alcohol consumed and the frequency of alcohol drinking prior to their pregnancy. At 32 weeks, they completed the second survey on average amount of alcohol they had on weekdays and weekends. Those who answered the first survey were considered light drinkers, while those in the second survey were moderate drinkers.

Results

At age 8, the IQ of the children was tested using the Wechslet Intelligence Scale for Children. The results suggest that even at low levels of alcohol consumption, there are differences in childhood IQ. This means that even at moderate levels, alcohol affect the brain development of a fetus.

For many years, experts have known that heavy alcohol consumption can cause birth defects. Now we are learning that even moderate drinking can have subtle effects on children as they grow. Because researchers don’t know how much (or how little) is a safe amount of alcohol to consume when you’re pregnant, they err on the side of caution and suggest all pregnant women abstain from drinking alcohol. Factors that can impact the effects of alcohol on a fetus include maternal metabolism and enzymes, as well as the amount of alcohol consumed. Many doctors leave the decision up to the individual mother, saying that there’s no evidence an occasional drink can harm a fetus. So educate yourself and so you can make healthy choices for yourself and your developing baby.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

There are lots of stereotypes out there about how birth order affects personality. Firstborns are said to be quiet and well-behaved, they’re pretty much blamed for tricking the parents into daring to have another assuming the next one would be just as placid. Younger siblings are said to be assertive, they know what they want and they’re not afraid to demand it. They’re about as different as first children can be. And as for the middle-child, well, they’re supposed to spend life feeling well and truly left out. But is there any truth in the stereotypes?

Does birth order affect personality?

Numerous research studies have been carried out to determine whether birth order affects personality and the results are varied. Though it was once accepted as common knowledge that birth order would play some part in determining your personality, recent studies have disproved this theory. A 2015 study concluded that birth order had little impact on personality outside of intellect.

Older children consistently score higher on IQ tests, this is thought to be because first time parents are more likely to spend time educating their child. Younger siblings tend to spend more time engaged in play with their older siblings, whereas first born children were likely to spend that time learning with parents.

Other than intellect, recent studies have not found any link between birth order and personality, so you can stop worrying about your middle child. It does make sense, however, that birth order would have some impact on the environment your child is born into even if this does not affect each child in a uniform way. A toddler with older siblings, for example, will have a very different home life than a toddler who is an older child.

Having an older sibling not only affects how you spend your time, it also means you have an important early relationship with a non-adult, which is likely to be very different to the close relationships of a child with only parents in the family. By the time a second or third child arrives, the parents are likely to be less anxious about things. Years into your parenting career, you won’t experience the same rush of terror when your child climbs the big slide. You may find your second child enjoys independence and freedom a little earlier than your first child did.

So while birth order will not necessarily impact upon your child’s personality, the home environment will. A child with older siblings will undoubtedly benefit in many ways from being part of a larger family though they miss out on those glorious first years as an only child revelling in all of the attention.

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.