What you need to know:

Drinking alcohol while you are pregnant can cause your baby to be born with both physical and mental birth defects. The most serious concern is a condition called Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). FAS is the leading preventable cause of mental retardation.

No one knows exactly how much alcohol a woman has to drink to cause birth defects in her baby. That level may differ from woman to woman. So experts agree that the best thing to do is not to drink alcohol at all while you are pregnant—that includes beer, wine, wine coolers and liquor.

If a woman takes an occasional drink before she knows she is pregnant, it probably won't harm her baby. But she should stop drinking alcohol as soon as she thinks she may be pregnant.

In February 2005, Dr. Richard H. Carmona, surgeon general of the United States, warned pregnant women and women who may become pregnant about the risks of alcohol during pregnancy.

What you can do:

Stay away from alcohol while you are pregnant. If you find it hard to say no, avoid parties, bars and other places where people are drinking alcohol.

If you have a problem stopping, get help. There is no more important time to stop than when you are pregnant.