The health of an unborn child is of top concern to women while pregnant. An estimated 40,000 babies are born each year with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), which can affect their physical, mental, behavioral and cognitive development for a lifetime. While pregnant women are accustomed to hearing varying advice on whether it is safe to drink “lightly,” it is important to note that there is no scientific evidence available that allows us to set a “safe” amount of alcohol that will not affect the developing fetus. FASDs are completely preventable by abstaining from alcohol while pregnant (and while trying to conceive). Mixing alcohol and pregnancy is simply not worth the risk.
