The amount of alcohol consumed during the pregnancy. However, no one knows how much alcohol a pregnant woman can drink without hurting the baby. Individual susceptibility to alcohol. Genetic factors determine the baby's ability to deal with the alcohol in its system. These genetic factors also determine how quickly the alcohol in the baby's system can be broken down.
Alcohol affects how the placenta transfers important nutrients necessary for fetal growth.
Good nutrition for the fetus is important throughout the entire pregnancy. The damage to the baby because of prenatal alcohol exposure may be compounded if the mother has poor nutritional status, smokes, is in poor health, is under increased stress and uses other drugs. Prevention Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is preventable by avoiding alcohol during pregnancy. The safest decision a woman can make is to completely avoid beer, wine and hard liquor during her pregnancy. If a woman is planning a pregnancy, she should decide to stop drinking before becoming pregnant.