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Why can drinking alcohol during pregnancy harm a fetus?
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alcoholism
Examining the effects of alcohol consumption.
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can harm a fetus because ethanol and its breakdown product, acetaldehyde, are toxic substances that interfere with the development of the embryo or fetus.1
This exposure can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and other fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), which are characterized by a range of severe impairments. Potential effects include:21
- Physical Abnormalities: Retarded growth, microcephaly, characteristic facial features (such as a thin upper lip and smooth philtrum), cleft palate, and defects in the heart, joints, and limbs.134
- Neurological and Behavioral Issues: Intellectual disability, poor concentration, impulsiveness, and developmental delays resulting from central nervous system damage.13
Because it remains unclear if any amount of alcohol is safe at any stage of pregnancy, medical experts and the U.S. Surgeon General advise total abstinence from alcohol during pregnancy to protect the fetus from these preventable, lifelong health consequences.13