Alcohol and pregnancy

When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, so does her baby. Alcohol crosses the placenta and is taken in by the developing foetus. Alcohol has been found to cause cell mutations in the foetus. This is especially true at the early stages of development (the first 30 days) but damage can occur at any point before birth.

The range of problems that can result from maternal alcohol consumption is called Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, or FASD.

Depending on how much has been drunk and when, effects include:

• moderate to severe intellectual disability
• learning and behavioural problems such as hyperactivity, impulsivity and attention deficit disorders
• growth deficits
• heart, lung, and kidney problems
• visual impairment.

The main cause of FASD is binge drinking (drinking five or more standard drinks at a single session).

After birth, alcohol is also transmitted to the baby through breast milk.