Alcohol can cause harm to a person if consumed in large quantities irresponsibly. During pregnancy, the harmful aspects of drinking are even more adverse, and the effects may range from mild to severe. There can be problems related to retardation along with those related to emotional, behavioural and learning issues on the part of the baby.

Other than these problems, there can also be serious damage to organs. The most severe defect that drinking can cause in a baby is termed as the Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. This syndrome is a combination of physical defects accompanied with mental ones. Drinking during pregnancy also puts you up to risks like miscarriage as well as premature birth of the baby. Stillbirth is another problem one can be subjected to for consuming alcohol during pregnancy.

The medical term used to describe the wide array of problems caused to the baby by alcohol is Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. The most severe results can be related to the growth problems, not only before birth, but afterwards as well. Besides damage to the central nervous system, there can also be abnormality in facial features.

When it comes to the question of drinking during pregnancy, it is important to consider that drinking is not safe at all and should be given up entirely. Most people think that a little bit of alcohol would not matter and the criterion of the amount of alcohol is different for everyone. It is advisable to stop drinking during pregnancy, because the birth defects can occur even for women who drink less.

Research over the years has shown that the children of women who drink even less during pregnancy sometimes show signs of emotional and behavioural problems, even after several years have passed after their birth. For women who do moderate drinking, there have been cases in which their children most likely have learning, behavioural and problems related to impulsivity, memory and attention span.

It happens many times that a woman does not feel the alcohol having any effect on her. However, it is a fact that when the alcohol reaches the baby through bloodstream, the baby is more likely to be affected by the alcohol, much more than the woman herself.

Another question that often arises when addressing pregnancy and drinking is about non-alcoholic beer or wine. This can be a little misleading because non-alcoholic beer or wine may contain traces of alcohol, even if less than half a percent. This means that non-alcoholic wine or beer may not always be free of alcohol. However, those labelled as alcohol-free do not contain any alcohol.

It is always suggested not to drink alcohol during pregnancy at all, because it is the same as your baby drinking alcohol. When we think about the potential harm to the baby and consumption of alcohol, the well-being and health of the baby comes first, even if this requires giving up alcohol.