Alcohol and Pregnancy The risks involved with alcohol use during
pregnancy:Alcohol consumption by the mother is a leading cause
of preventable birth defects in the fetus and is the only cause
of mental retardation that is completely preventable. Everything
a mother drinks also goes to the fetus. Alcohol is broken down
more slowly in the immature body of the fetus than in an adult's
body. This can cause the alcohol levels to remain high and stay
in the baby's body longer. In addition, the risk of miscarriage
and stillbirth increases with alcohol consumption. Even light or
moderate drinking can affect the developing fetus. Because no
amount of alcohol is safe, the US Surgeon General recommends
that pregnant women avoid alcohol during pregnancy. An infant
born to a mother who drinks alcohol during pregnancy can have
problems included in a group of disorders called fetal alcohol
spectrum disorders (FASDs). FASDs include the following: - Fetal
alcohol syndrome (FAS): these are the most severe effects that
can occu