If you drink alcohol during your pregnancy you risk causing harm to your baby. Sometimes this can result in mental and physical problems in the baby, called fetal alcohol syndrome. This occurs because the alcohol in the mother’s blood passes to her baby through the placenta. The baby cannot process alcohol as well as you can, which means it can damage cells in their brain, spinal cord, and other parts of their body, and disrupt their development in the womb.

Symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome include a head that is small than average, poor growth – the baby may be smaller than average at birth, grow slowly as they get older, or be shorter than average as an adult. The child may have movement and balance problems, and learning difficulties, such as problems with thinking, speech, social skills, timekeeping, arithmetic, or memory. They may suffer from attention, concentration, and hyperactivity issues. They may also have problems with the liver, kidneys, heart, and other organs, as well as hearing and vision problems. These problems are permanent, though early treatment and support can limit their impact on the child's life.

Fetal alcohol syndrome is caused when alcohol you drink whilst pregnant enters your bloodstream and reaches your developing fetus by crossing the placenta. Alcohol interferes with the delivery of oxygen and optimal nutrition to your developing baby. The more you drink whilst pregnant, the greater the risk to your unborn baby. However any amount of alcohol puts the baby at risk.

There is no particular treatment for fetal alcohol syndrome, and the damage to the child’s brain and organs cannot be reversed. Once the condition has been diagnosed, a team of health care professionals can assess the needs of the affected child and offer appropriate educational and behavioral strategies to meet their needs.

Fetal alcohol syndrome is completely avoidable if you do not drink alcohol while you are pregnant. If you are pregnant and struggling to give up alcohol, talk to a doctor or mental health professional for advice. Joining a support group or 12 step program such as Alcoholics Anonymous may also help.