How much alcohol is too much during pregnancy?

Alcohol and pregnancy don't mix. No one knows exactly what potential harmful effects even the smallest amount of alcohol has on a developing baby.
All public health officials in the United States recommend that pregnant women, as well as women who are trying to conceive, play it safe by steering clear of alcohol entirely.

How Does Alcohol Hurt an Unborn Baby?
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) refers to the range of disabilities caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol. Children develop FASD when alcohol that is consumed by the mother and in her blood crosses the placenta and enters the unborn baby's body. This alcohol can cause damage to the unborn baby's developing brain and other organs (e.g. the heart) and affect the normal development of the baby. The effects of this alcohol could lead to problems after the baby is born including:
- Not growing as tall or big as other children

- Difficulty learning new things, like math or reading

- Difficulty learning to understand language

- Difficulty learning how to talk (speech and language)

- Difficulty with remembering (memory)

- Difficulty understanding cause and effect

- Difficulty problem solving

- Difficulty paying attention
Difficulties may be range from "mild" to "very severe," which is why FASD is called a "spectrum" disorder. FASD is also often called an "invisible disability" because those with FASD often look just like other people, but have difficulties that people without FASD do not have. Remember, no amount of alcohol is "safe" for the mother during pregnancy.
Anyone may have FASD if their mother drank during pregnancy but only specially-trained doctors can tell for sure and give a diagnosis after an assessment.