In a recent article, Jean Goodman, MD, division director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Loyola University Health system, studied the affects of alcohol on pregnant women. Alcohol is associated with increased risk for mental delays, cardiac anomalies and facial clefting in babies. Goodman's study also found that alcohol is linked to gastroschisis which is a birth defect of the baby's abdominal wall. When surveying 36 women who gave birth to babies with gastroschisis and 76 women who did not have babies with this defect, researchers were able to find a correlation between gastroschisis and alcohol use one month prior to conception and during the first trimester. Age, race, and financial means were all non-factors in the correlation.

Gastroschisis can be identified via ultrasound. It's important to monitor infants with such disease. Goodman and researchers cannot stress enough that women should refrain from drinking alcohol while planning for pregnancy or during pregnancy. More information on effects of alcohol on the fetus can be read in an WebMD article.