Some of these things include drinking alcohol, taking drugs, smoking, dieting, and poor health practices. Alcohol can hurt your unborn baby. Because a baby is inside you, when you drink alcohol, the baby drinks alcohol, too. A baby born to a mother who drinks alcohol can have brain damage or heart problems. The baby may also be smaller and lighter in weight than a normal baby.
Nobody knows how much alcohol is too much.
As soon as you think you are going to have a baby, talk to your doctor about safe drugs. Only use drugs that your doctor says you can use. Drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines can hurt the baby inside you. The baby can't get food or get rid of waste. A smoking women may not put on weight while pregnant, and this hurts the baby trying to grow inside her.