Alcoholism

  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Alcoholism

What Are the Effects of Prenatal Alcohol on the Fetus?

From Centers for Disease Control NCBDDD, for About.com

Updated: November 23, 2007

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Question: What Are the Effects of Prenatal Alcohol on the Fetus?
Answer: The U.S. Public Health Service has indicated that there is no safe level of alcohol use during pregnancy. If a woman drinks while pregnant, she puts her developing fetus at risk for a wide spectrum of adverse effects including spontaneous abortion; growth retardation; physical, mental, and behavioral abnormalities; facial abnormalities; and CNS impairment, such as developmental delay, speech or language delay, lower IQ, and decreased head circumference. In the worst cases, prenatal exposure to alcohol may result in fetal death.

Back to: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome FAQ

More Alcoholism Q&A
Buddy T
Guide since 1997

Buddy T
Alcoholism Guide

About.com Special Features

Do I Have Allergies?

Are your symptoms merely irritating, or could they be a sign of allergies? More >

Preventing Headaches

The best way to treat a headache is to prevent it. Learn how. More >

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.

Alcoholism

  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Alcoholism