Can an occasional drink really be harmful to a fetus?
Maternal consumption of alcohol has been identified as the chief cause of preventable mental retardation in the U.S. The exact timing of alcohol damage to the fetus is still unclear, it seems likely that some of it occurs before a mother realizes she is pregnant. Although complete abstinence from alcohol during pregnancy is recommended, most doctors realize that it is unrealistic to expect a woman to drink nothing at all for the entire child bearing period of her life. Your doctor would probably counsel you to avoid regular and excessive use of alcohol when you are actively attempting to conceive, suspect you might be pregnant, or have confirmation of pregnancy.
