Prenatal Care Book 2023 | Page 48

CAN I DRINK ALCOHOL WHILE I AM PREGNANT ?

Any alcohol that you consume will cross the placenta and can affect your baby . Fetal alcohol syndrome is now well-documented . The defects of the syndrome include severe growth deficiency , heart defects , malformed facial features , and intellectual disabilities , learning differences , or cognitive impairment . It is unknown just how much alcohol consumption is necessary to adversely affect a baby . In one study , women who consumed four drinks per day had a 20 % chance of delivering a baby with fetal alcohol syndrome . All forms of alcohol are equally hazardous . One shot of liquor , one beer , one mixed drink , or one glass of wine each contain a half-ounce of absolute alcohol .
We recommend that all pregnant women and women trying to conceive should not consume alcohol .
46 My Prenatal Care Book