Mums’ booze binges cause disorders in kids

Reported July 20, 2010

Binge drinking women are fuelling a surge in the number of babies born with learning disabilities, a British government adviser has warned.

Professor Barry Carpenter said that there had been a 25 per cent rise in children with learning disabilities in the past five years, taking the number to 950,000.

He said a large number of 19 to 24-year-olds are drinking heavily and in the vital first 13 weeks too.

Foetal Alcohol Syndrome disorder, which is caused by poisoning in the womb, causes facial deformities, severe learning problems and hyperactivity.

"Drunken young women are poisoning their babies - it's child abuse by umbilical cord," the Sun quoted Prof Carpenter as telling Learning Disability Practice.

"Thirty per cent of people with FASD commit suicide in later life because their lives are unbearable," he added.

"We would advise women trying to start a family to stop drinking alcohol,” said Mervi Jokinen of the Royal College of Midwives.