Abstract
An earlier retrospective study of children to alcoholic mothers showed correlation between size at birth and later mental performance. In a study of 23 children born by 15 presently alcoholic women (study group) with matched controls (sex, birthweight, gest. age, city area) the study group had slower growth after birth. Study children scored lower than controls in tests for intelligence (Griffith and WISC mean IQ 93.8 and 112.7 respectively, p<0.001), perception (Frostig test, p<0.001), gross motor age (score 91 and 105 resp., p<0.005) and fine motor age (score 89 and 105 resp., p<0.005).
Prospective tracing of alcoholic pregnancies was done in some areas of Goteborg. 28 alcoholic pregnancies were traced from May-77 to Nov -78. 5 legal abortions were done. 2 infants were still-born, born, 21 were born alive. Treatment and support aiming at sobriety could be started at different stages of pregnancy and with varying response. Early sobriety resulted in average size at birth, sobriety from mid-pregnancy gave a mean suppression of size at birth of 1 SD from the mean Swedish growth charts, and abuse throughout pregnancy a mean suppression of 1.7 SD. Pathological evoked response electroencephalograms (ER) were found in all three groups at birth. Only 1 of 14 investigated infants had a normal ER.
The incidence of the complete alcohol syndrome was 1/600 deliveries. In children born 1975-77 in Göteborg every sixth case of cerebral palsy was associated with an alcoholic pregnancy.
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Olegård, R., Sabel, K., Aronsson, M. et al. Controlled and prospective studies: 64. Pediatr Res 14, 175–176 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198002000-00091
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198002000-00091