Western Regional Training Center for FASDs
Semel Institute
760 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles CA 90095
Support for the WRTC for FASDs has been provided by the CDC
Frequently Asked Questions on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Many health care professionals have asked for materials and information on FASDs. Provided here is information that may be useful. Please feel free to distribute and use these materials in your training program
What should I do if I am pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant?
If you are thinking of becoming pregnant or are currently pregnant, you should not drink alcohol. No safe dose of alcohol in pregnancy has been identified. Furthermore, there does not appear to be a safe period of pregnancy for drinking. The adverse effects can occur in every trimester. Major morphological abnormalities due to drinking can occur in the first trimester when you get the characteristic facial features. The second trimester brings substantially increased risk of spontaneous abortion. Rapid fetal growth in the third trimester makes this a vulnerable period particularly for the brain. Brain development is negatively affected by alcohol consumption throughout pregnancy.
What is a standard drink and how is it calculated?
A standard drink is considered to be 0.6 ounces of absolute alcohol (aa).
- One 12-ounce can of beer containing 5% aa (12 x .05 = .60 = 1 standard drink)
- One 5-ounce glass of wine containing 12% aa (5 x .12 = .60 = 1 standard drink)
- One 4-ounce glass of fortified wine containing 15% aa (4 x .15 = .60 standard drink)
- One 1½ -ounce hard liquor or spirits containing 40% aa (1½ x .40 = .60 = 1 standard drink)
- One 12-ounce bottle of wine cooler containing 5% aa (12 x .05 = .60 = 1 standard drink)
However, some alcohol is marketed in containers containing more than one standard drink. For example:
One 40-ounce bottle of malt liquor containing 8% aa (40 x .08 = 3.20 = 5.33 standard drinks
