Article: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Mother's who are pregnant should avoid drinking alcohol. It is difficult to determine the safe level of alcohol one drinks during pregnancy so it is wise to obstain from it all together. The effects of alcohol are seen directly on the developing fetal cells. Pure alcohol-ethanol-interferes with the normal growth of the fetus and in cell division. The growth in both are retarded. In the cases of chronic alcoholic mothers who drank 5 ounces or more of pure alcohol a day, their babies were found to have problems with their nervous system, low birth weight, facial deformaties, brain damage, growth deficiencies. Women should be warned about the risk to their babies if they drink alcohol.