Physiology of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

When a pregnant woman drinks beer, wine, hard liquor, or other alcoholic beverages, alcohol gets into her blood. The alcohol in the mother's blood goes to her baby through the umbilical cord. When the alcohol enters the baby's body, it can cause birth defects. Drinking alcohol in the early stages of pregnancy can cause the facial and other physical defects of FAS. Drinking alcohol at any time during pregnancy can slow down the baby's growth and affect the baby's brain. There is no time during pregnancy when there is no chance at all of hurting your baby if you drink alcohol.