Alcohol Pregnancy

Drinking alcohol at any time during pregnancy can cause serious health problems for your baby. Alcohol includes wine, wine coolers, beer and liquor. Alcohol in the mother’s blood passes to the baby through the umbilical cord. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and a range of lifelong physical, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities. These disabilities are known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). There is no safe time to drink alcohol during pregnancy. Alcohol can cause problems for the developing baby throughout pregnancy, including before a woman knows she is pregnant. Drinking alcohol in the first three months of pregnancy can cause the baby to have abnormal facial features. Growth and central nervous system problems (e.g., low birthweight, behavioral problems) can occur from drinking alcohol anytime during pregnancy. The baby’s brain is developing throughout pregnancy and can be affected by exposure to alcohol at any time. Children with FASDs might have the following characteristics and behaviors:

Problems with the heart, kidney, or bones

Vision or hearing problems

Sleep and sucking problems as a baby

Poor reasoning and judgment skills

Intellectual disability or low IQ

Speech and language delays

Learning disabilities

Difficulty in school

Poor memory

Difficulty with attention

Hyperactive Behavior

Poor Coordination

Low body weight

Shorter-than-average height

Small head size

Abnormal facial features

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