Shocking effects men's drinking habits could have on unborn children

Whilst it's generally common knowledge that pregnant women are advised by medics not to consume any alcohol, the fathers-to-be are free to drink as many pints as they like.

And though some partners ditch the booze in support of their other halves throughout the duration that they're carrying a child, others don't see why they should have to suffer nine months of dryness.

It turns out, however, that the drinking habits of soon-to-be dads CAN in fact have an affect on the unborn foetus.

Sorry, guys, but it's true!

In fact, according to a group of US scientists, heavy drinking during the months prior to impregnation (or conception, whichever your GCSE biology teacher taught you to say...) can affect the development of the child's facial features.

In particular, the growth rate of the babies' eyes, head, mouth and jaw can be damaged as a result of excessive alcohol consumption on the father's part.

This is due to the risk that too much booze can trigger foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), which affects facial growth in the womb.

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This can subsequently damage the extent to which the babies' brain can grow.

FADS is usually associated with the mother's drinking habits during the period they're carrying, and one of the many reasons that mums-to-be are advised not to drink during pregnancy.

Research previously conducted has found that maternal drinking can, in some cases, result in a slightly shorter, more upturned nose in their offspring.

But now, it has been proven that these affects are also directly linked to the father's drinking habits.

Professor Michael Holding - a developmental physiologist from Texas A&M University - this week told press: "When it was the dad drinking, we saw a profound shift in the organisation of the face.

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"Chronic male alcohol exposure (defined as consuming more than five drinks per day in a four-hour window) could drive core fetal alcohol syndrome birth defects."

It was discovered that the offspring of men that drank were considerably more likely to have smaller eyes, squished faces and smaller mouths.

This would naturally result in cases where the child's adult teeth would become more crowded.

Their ears were also found further down their heads, compared with babies whose dads did not drink.

And on top of this, these babies were more at risk of developing microcephaly, which sees the underdevelopment of the head and brain.

In most cases, it also sees a lower birth weight, which is more severe the more the dad drinks.

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Another separate study carried out in the US also suggests that the offspring of men who are heavy drinkers are considerably more likely to have drug-seeking tendencies themselves, compared with those who have dads that don't drink.

And clinical studies have suggested the paternal boozing can increase the risk of potentially-fatal heart defects in their children.

Something to think about, guys...

Topics: Food And Drink, Health, Parenting, Science, Education

Rhianna Benson

Rhianna is an Entertainment Journalist at LADbible Group, working across LADbible, UNILAD and Tyla. She has a Masters in News Journalism from the University of Salford and a Masters in Ancient History from the University of Edinburgh. She previously worked as a Celebrity Reporter for OK! and New Magazines, and as a TV Writer for Reach PLC.

@rhiannaBjourno