FAS is difficult to measure and therefore the statistics vary. It is estimated that about one in every 750 infants born in the US has full-blown FAS, while ARND and ARBD are believed to occur in one out of every 250 infants born.

Recent research indicates that about half of the children born to women who drink during pregnancy are not affected by their mother’s drinking. The research also shows that risk factors such as maternal age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, genetic factors and maternal alcohol metabolism as well as different drinking patterns can influence the chances of FAS affecting a child. But since little is known about these risk factors, the best advice is still to abstain from alcohol consumption entirely when pregnant.

There is no way to tell exactly how much alcohol will affect a child in the womb and so it is best for pregnant women to abstain from drinking altogether. It is confirmed that full-blown FAS only occurs as a result of chronic alcohol use, but ARND and ARBD can occur from either occasional drinking or binge drinking, depending on indeterminable factors.

That said, people do get unnecessarily hysterical over FAS. Many women panic when they realize they may have had a drink or two before they knew they were pregnant, or even eaten a meal that was cooked with wine,. This sort of reaction is over-the-top. Many people falsely believe that a single drink will affect their unborn child, but there is no medical evidence to support this at all. However, because there is no way of telling how much alcohol will be too much, the safest option is still to abstain altogether while pregnant.

If you are concerned that you have put your unborn child at risk of FAS by drinking while pregnant, or if you think your child has FAS, ARND or ARBD, then you should talk to your physician. Get a second opinion if you are still concerned.