Alcohol Use During Pregnancy

Avoid drinking alcohol entirely while you are pregnant. There is no known safe amount of alcohol intake during pregnancy.

• A single episode of heavy drinking or binge drinking (such as at a party) can permanently damage your fetus if the episode occurs at a critical time in the fetus's development.
• Consumption of alcohol during pregnancy is linked to an increased risk of miscarriage, premature birth, complications during labor and delivery, and low birth weight.
• Excessive use of alcohol during pregnancy has been linked to a group of serious birth defects known as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) . Infants born with FAS have problems that include heart defects, abnormal development of the arms and legs, skull and facial abnormalities, and lower-than-average intelligence.