It's not something that is often talked about, but alcohol use can impact dads and dads-to-be.
Jade Elliot sat down with Marcela Smid, MD, maternal-fetal medicine, University of Utah Health, on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast to discuss the negative effects of heavy alcohol use in dads.
For healthy men under the age of 65: more than 4 drinks per day or more than 14 drinks per week may indicate risky drinking.
Alcohol and other drug use has a familial component, and 40-60% of alcohol use disorder are attributed to genetic/familial components.
Alcohol use among fathers-to-be may decrease fertility among couples with infertility. Among couples experiencing fertility issues, alcohol use may decrease sperm count and motility.
Heavy alcohol use is associated with decreased paternal attachment to infants and increased maternal depressions.
Any substance use disorders increases the risk of substance use disorder in children.
For more information on infertility, click here or listen to our Baby Your Baby podcast on the topic.
Click here to listen to the Baby Your Baby Podcast on alcohol use before and during pregnancy.
For information on mental health and substance use disorder treatment services, click here.
The Baby Your Baby program provides many resources for all pregnant women and new moms in Utah. There is also expert advice from the Utah Department of Health and Intermountain Healthcare that air each week on KUTV 2News.