National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC I) Practice Exam

How much more ethanol does a fetus receive compared to the mother when the mother consumes alcohol?

1. 3 times the amount

2. 5 times the amount

3. 7 times the amount

4. 10 times the amount

The correct answer is: 7 times the amount

When a mother consumes alcohol, the distribution of ethanol in the body varies significantly between her and the developing fetus. Ethanol, being a small molecule, crosses the placental barrier readily. Research indicates that a fetus can actually experience higher concentrations of ethanol due to several physiological factors. One key factor is that the fetus has a lower body water content compared to the mother, which results in a higher concentration of alcohol in the fetal bloodstream. Additionally, fetal metabolism of ethanol is less efficient than that of the mother; therefore, the fetus cannot break down or eliminate ethanol as effectively. These factors combined can lead to circumstances where the fetus may be exposed to ethanol levels several times that of the mother. The assertion that a fetus can receive up to seven times the concentration of ethanol compared to the mother aligns with evidence in the field of prenatal alcohol exposure studies. This significant difference underscores the risks associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy, demonstrating how much more vulnerable a fetus is to the effects of ethanol. Consequently, it is critical for expecting mothers to be aware of the potential dangers of alcohol consumption, as the implications can be severe for the developing child.