How long before conception does a women need to stop drinking to ensure the birth of a normal baby?
Alcohol abuse prior to a pregnancy contributes to poor nutritional status of the woman and predisposes her to many negative health consequences. The more time there is for the body to recover from the nutritional and physical effects of alcohol abuse prior to a pregnancy, the more chance there is for a healthy pregnancy that results in a healthy baby. As for social or occasional drinkers, it is suggested that women stop drinking before they begin trying to conceive. Often women are unaware that they have become pregnant and can cause damage to the fetus by drinking because there is such rapid growth that occurs during this stage.
