Alcohol And Pregnancy Fetal Development Chart printable pdf download

Alcohol and Pregnancy

What are the risks to my baby of drinking alcohol during pregnancy?

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and a range of physical, behavioral, and

intellectual disabilities for the baby that can last a lifetime. These disabilities are known as fetal alcohol spectrum

disorders (FASDs). Some of the health and other problems of people with FASDs include learning disabilities,

hyperactivity, difficulty with attention, speech and language delays, low IQ, and poor reasoning (thinking) and

judgment skills. People born with FASDs can also have problems with their organs, including the heart and

kidneys. Babies with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which is one of the FASDs, have a small head, weigh less

than other babies, and have parts of their faces that look different than other babies.

What do I need to know about drinking alcohol during pregnancy?

There is no known safe amount of alcohol you can drink during pregnancy or while trying to get pregnant.

Too many women continue to drink during pregnancy. About 1 in 13 pregnant women in the United States

drank alcohol in the past 30 days. About 1 in 71 pregnant women in the United States had 4 or more drinks

at one time (binge drinking) in the past 30 days.

FASDs are completely preventable if a woman does not drink alcohol during pregnancy. Why take the risk?

Is it okay to drink a little or at certain times during pregnancy?

There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy or when you are trying to get pregnant. All

drinks with alcohol can affect a baby’s growth and development and cause FASDs. A 5-ounce glass of red or

white wine has the same amount of alcohol as a 12-ounce can of beer or a 1.5-ounce shot of straight liquor. All

types of alcohol—even wine, wine coolers, and beer—can harm your developing baby. The chart below shows

when your baby is developing different parts of its body that may be harmed by drinking alcohol.

1526-9523/09/$36.00 doi:10.1111/jmwh.12286

2015 by the American College of Nurse-Midwives

113

Alcohol And Pregnancy Fetal Development Chart