Latest Evidence on Alcohol and Pregnancy

Alcohol increases risk for miscarriage, birth defects and other problems, and it is the sole cause of the range of physical, developmental and cognitive problems known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), which can affect up to 5 percent of all pregnancies. Many women report drinking early in pregnancy, often before they know they're pregnant. When knowledgeable of the latest research evidence, nurses can counsel women of the risks alcohol use poses to a healthy pregnancy.