A new study by Dutch researchers has concluded that the amount of alcohol a mother drinks, before and during pregnancy, can determine the shape of her child’s face.
According to the study, published by the European Society of Reproduction and Embryology, drinking pregnant women with one glass of wine (175 ml) or 12 ounces of beer per week can affect the appearance of their future babies.
She also noted that the new findings also shed light on how a child’s face can be an indicator of health and developmental problems.
The study showed that alcohol consumption by pregnant women can expose the child to fetal alcohol syndrome, which is a combination of growth deficits, neurological impairment and significantly abnormal facial development.
Common changes in facial features can include an upturned nasal tip, a short nose, a rounded chin and an inverted lower eyelid, according to the study.
Symptoms related to the child’s mental health also include cognitive impairment, ADHD, learning difficulties, memory problems, behavioral problems, and speech delays.
The study’s author, Xiangying Liu, said the researchers found an association between prenatal alcohol exposure and facial shape in children at the age of nine.
He added, “The more alcohol mothers drank, the more statistically significant changes there were,” noting that “the face is a healthy mirror for the child because it reflects issues related to public health.”
Fetal alcohol syndrome causes brain damage and developmental problems. The problems it causes vary from child to child, but most include distinctive facial features, including small eyes, an exceptionally thin upper lip, a small, upturned nose, and a smooth surface of skin between the nose and upper lip.