A 38-year-old woman with nearly three times the legal alcohol limit gave birth to a baby with over 1.5 times the limit in Lubelskie, Poland.
Drunk Mother Gives Birth to Alcohol-Affected Baby
On January 9, a 38-year-old woman in advanced pregnancy with nearly three times the legal alcohol limit was admitted to a hospital in Tomaszów Lubelski. Due to the direct threat to the child’s life and health, doctors performed a cesarean section. The newborn girl was found to have over 1.5 times the legal alcohol limit in her blood.
An investigation has been launched regarding exposing a child to the risk of losing life or health. The woman faces up to five years in prison.
Baby Diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Doctors diagnosed the newborn with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). – This amount of alcohol caused irreversible damage to the child’s central nervous system. There were also signs of prematurity or fetal malnutrition; the baby weighed less than two kilograms, caused by the mother’s lifestyle, the child was malnourished – said doctor Kazimierz Futyma.
The baby requires intensive neonatal care. – It is currently under increased supervision. It has contact with the mother, however, it is fed artificially with modified milk – said pediatrician Ewa Kaptur from SPZOZ in Tomaszów Lubelski.
Not Her First Time Giving Birth Under Influence
Journalists have established that this is not the first time the woman gave birth under the influence of alcohol. Her six-year-old son is in a specialized center and struggles with serious neurological damage.
In December 2024, the 38-year-old was sentenced to community service for abusing a dog, but due to avoiding the penalty, she was supposed to go to prison for a year. Ultimately, she did not go to prison due to her advanced pregnancy. Another proceeding is also pending against her for abusing her current partner’s mother.
Seeking Help
If you struggle with addiction or want to learn how to help a loved one, you can contact specialists who are on duty at the following numbers:
More information can be found on the websites of the National Center for Counteracting Addictions [https://kcpu.gov.pl/].
