A Wisconsin screening study reported that 32% of women reported drinking during pregnancy compared to the national average of 18%.

Pregnant women and women planning to get pregnant should not drink.  Pregnant women who are drinking should stop at once to reduce the risk of harming their fetus. 

Alcohol can harm a fetus at any time, even before a woman knows she’s pregnant.  Alcohol is one of the most dangerous teratogens, which are substances that can harm a developing fetus.  When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, the alcohol crosses the placental barrier and enters the bloodstream of the fetus.  The alcohol content in the blood of the fetus then equals or exceeds that of the mother.

Defects caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol have been identified in virtually every part of the body, including the brain, face, eyes, ears, heart, kidneys, and bones.  No single mechanism can account for all the problems that alcohol causes.  Alcohol sets in motion many processes at different sites in the developing fetus.