If alcohol has such detrimental effects on adults, what do you suppose is its effect on a developing baby? The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says that the level of alcohol you ingest is the same level of alcohol ingested by your baby.

Medical experts say that alcohol is one of the strongest drugs that can affect a fetus. Alcohol affects your baby's cognitive and physical development. Your child is most vulnerable from the effects of alcohol during the earliest stages of its development. This is the time when your baby's vital organs are forming and the cells are rapidly dividing.

Experts say that there is no known safe threshold for alcohol during pregnancy and recommend stopping alcohol consumption altogether during pregnancy.

Who should not consume alcohol

The Center for Diseases Controls (CDC) recommends that the following should not consume alccohol:

• Pregnant women

• Women who are planning to get pregnant.

• Women who have a chance of getting pregnant.

The CDC also recommends that women of childbearing age limit their consumption to no more than 7 drinks per week, and no more than 3 drinks on one occasion.

Health problems caused by alcohol

The ACOG lists a number of health problems that can be caused by heavy alcohol consumption, before or after pregnancy:

• Vitamin and mineral deficiency

• Damage to your internal organs, including your brain, liver, and digestive system

• Depression

• Increased risk of certain types of cancer

As for you baby, ACOG warns that the following health problems may occur:

• Miscarriage

• Fetal alcohol syndrome, the most common cause of mental retardation in babies

• Physical defects

• Low birth weight

• Hyperactivity

• Decreased attention span

Before, it was believed that moderate drinking (once a day) was considered safe. However, it was recently discovered that children of women who consumed alcohol during pregnancy experienced developmental problems throughout their childhood. In 2002, the University of Pittsburgh conducted a study involving children whose mothers drank at least once a day during their first trimester. They found that by the time they were 14 years old, the children on average, weighed 16 pounds less than those whose mothers did not consume alcohol.

If you find that you can't stop drinking, it may be alcoholism. Seek professional/medical help before you endanger your baby and yourself.