Drinking alcohol in months before pregnancy ‘changes baby’s face’

Consuming just one glass of wine a week linked to facial changes, research finds

Prenatal alcohol exposure only before pregnancy (Tier 1), during first trimester only (Tier 2a), and during either first trimester or all trimesters (Tier 2b) (Human Reproduction journal)

Drinking alcohol in the months before conception could change the face of your child, a new study suggests.

While it is well-established that consuming significant amounts alcohol during pregnancy is harmful to a child’s health, little has previously been known about the effects of low alcohol consumption – even prior to pregnancy – on children’s facial development.

The face acts as a “health mirror” in reflecting a child’s overall physical wellbeing, said the study’s lead researcher, Professor Gennady Roshchupkin, of the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam.