I'm 3 months pregnant and don't drink very often, but do like to have a social drink every once in a while. Is it OK to occasionally drink alcohol during pregnancy? – Maya No. It may seem harmless to have a glass of wine at dinner or a mug of beer out with friends, but there is no known "safe amount" of alcohol to drink during pregnancy. Alcohol is one of the most common known causes of mental and physical birth defects and can produce severe abnormalities in a developing fetus. Alcohol is easily passed along to the baby, who is less able to eliminate it than the mother. If you had a drink or two before you even knew you were pregnant (as many women do), don't worry too much about it. But your best bet is to not drink alcohol at all for the rest of your pregnancy. Back to Articles Related Articles Fetal Alcohol Syndrome If a woman drinks alcohol during her pregnancy, her baby could be born with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which causes a wide range of physical, behavioral, and learning problems. Read More Pregnancy & Newborn Center Advice and information for expectant and new parents. Read More Pregnancy Precautions: FAQs Moms-to-be have a lot of questions about what's safe during pregnancy. Keep your sanity by knowing what you can - and can't - do before your baby arrives. Read More Medical Care During Pregnancy The sooner in pregnancy good care begins, the better for the health of both moms and their babies. Here's what to expect. Read More A Week-by-Week Pregnancy Calendar Our week-by-week illustrated pregnancy calendar is a detailed guide to all the changes taking place in your baby - and in you! Read More Staying Healthy During Pregnancy During your pregnancy, you'll probably get advice from everyone. But staying healthy depends on you - read about the many ways to keep you and your baby as healthy as possible. Read More 5 Ways to Prevent Early Labor (Slideshow) It's best for babies not to be born before they're due. Learn what you can do to prevent early labor. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.