FAS stands for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Alcohol in the mother's blood crosses the placenta freely and enters the embryo or fetus through the umbilical cord. The U.S. Public Health Service has indicated that there is no safe level of alcohol use during pregnancy. In the worst cases, prenatal exposure to alcohol may result in fetal death.
All drinks containing alcohol can hurt an unborn baby.
In addition, some alcoholic drinks, such as malt beverages, wine coolers, and mixed drinks often contain more alcohol than a 12-ounce can of beer. There is no safe amount of alcohol that woman can drink while pregnant. Any time a pregnant woman engages in regular drinking, she increases her chance of having a spontaneous abortion and puts her unborn child at risk for growth deficiencies, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems. FAS is a disorder characterized by growth retardation, facial abnormalities, and central nervous system dysfunction. Children with ARND do not have full FAS, but may demonstrate learning and behavioral problems caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol.