Alcohol affects babies at all stages of pregnancy. The only difference is to what extent and in what way. If you were drinking in early pregnancy without knowing, the most likely harmful outcome would have been a miscarriage. If that didn’t happen and you’re out of the first trimester, chances are your baby will be fine – provided you’ve stopped drinking. In later stages of pregnancy, alcohol may cause a lower birth weight, preterm labor, and cognitive issues that may not appear until later in life.