Pregnancy, alcohol not a good mixture Published Aug. 27, 2010 By Sally B. Smith Substance Abuse Counselor, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists strongly urges women not to ignore the public health warnings associated with consuming alcohol while pregnant because once the alcohol reaches the developing fetus the damage is irreversible. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is the leading known cause of mental retardation and birth defects. Up to 40,000 babies are born a year with some form of birth disorder. A mother's alcohol use during pregnancy is one of the top preventable causes of birth defects and developmental disabilities. There is no known amount of alcohol that is safe to drink while pregnant. There is no time during pregnancy when it is safe to drink. When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, her baby does too. The following information is provided to inform individuals on how unborn babies can become at risk when a pregnant woman drinks any type or amount of alcoholic beverage. The baby gets food, water and oxygen from its mother's blood. When a pregnant woman drinks, the alcohol in her blood goes to the baby. This can damage the baby's growing body and brain. Alcohol makes the blood vessels going from the mother to the baby smaller. So the baby doesn't get enough food, water and oxygen. This can slow the baby's growth and development. Alcohol can cause many types of birth defects but one in particular is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome? Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a group of serious birth defects caused by alcohol. Babies with FAS are born with deformed faces and brain damage. They don't physically develop like they should and will always be smaller than other children. Usually FAS happens when a woman drinks heavily during pregnancy. Even low or moderate amounts of alcohol can cause birth defects. Babies born with only some of the birth defects seen in FAS have fetal alcohol effects. All alcohol can harm your baby These drinks all contain about the same amount of alcohol: 12-ounce bottle of beer 4-ounce glass of wine 1-ounce shot of 100-proof liquor Beverages labeled as "non-alcoholic" often have a small amount of alcohol in them. Drinking large amounts of these may affect the baby too. Keep your baby healthy · Don't drink alcohol. · Don't use other drugs without asking your health care provider. · Eat healthy foods. · Get prenatal care as soon as you know you're pregnant. No matter when a woman stops drinking during pregnancy, her chances of having a healthy baby go up. To learn more Discuss with your Primary Care Provider, contact · Tinker's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program, 739-7147 · National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, 800-729-6686, http://ncadi.samhsa.gov