While it is common knowledge that it is unsafe to abuse any kind of drugs during pregnancy, many people wonder if it is safe to drink alcohol during pregnancy.In a word, the answer is "no."  Why?  Because drinking during pregnancy can cause a number of dangerous consequences and harmful effects on the baby.

For instance, drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause mental retardation and/or behavioral and learning problems that can last a lifetime.

The exact amount of alcohol that is required to cause these problems is not known.  What is known, however, is that these alcohol-related birth defects are 100%& avoidable, simply by abstaining from drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

In short the safest course for women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant is abstaining from drinking alcohol.

As stated above, drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to mental and physical birth defects.  Sadly, every year in the United States, more than 40,000 babies are born with some degree of alcohol-related impairment.  Even though many, if not most, women understand that excessive drinking during pregnancy can lead to birth defects, many woman, apparently, are unaware or do not comprehend that restrained or even light drinking can seriously impair or damage the unborn fetus.