The following article will discuss alcohol consumption during pregnancy and its effects on the newborn. In order to provide appropriate care, every nurse must be knowledgeable on this topic and be prepared to educate patients to ensure they understand the risks and consequences of drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Many women feel guilty for drinking alcohol before knowing they are pregnant, and when the pregnancy test is positive, they are afraid of already harming the baby because alcohol is known to pass the placenta . Toxins from alcohol can disrupt cell division, placement and development of a newborn's organs. When cells are damaged by nicotine, drugs or alcohol, they stop dividing. This will lead to an early miscarriage which the woman will experience as a late period. If the fetus survives, it is probably not affected. For many years, it was believed that alcohol could only affect the unborn child once the placenta and umbilical cord were fully developed. Ten to fourteen days after fertilization, the egg arrives in the uterus and nests there. In this phase, there is no connection between the mother's blood and that of the child via the umbilical cord, but as the placenta develops, the embryo draws its nutrients from the mother's blood via the sac yolk. As soon as alcohol enters the mother's bloodstream through the stomach and small intestine, it also reaches the embryo through cellular processes and disrupts cell division. It is wrong to believe that a glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage will not harm the baby if his organs are developed. Alcohol is harmful to the baby at every stage of pregnancy. The fact is that the first three months are particularly sensitive because the organs are shaping and... middle of paper ...... alcohol, the health care provider can diagnose FAS. Statistics show that out of every 1,000 newborns, 3 babies are born with FAS. When planning a pregnancy, it is worth considering not only the mother's but also the father's attitude towards alcohol consumption, since it is now believed that alcohol can cause deformities chromosomes of spermatozoa. , but further research is needed. Assessing patients' knowledge about the negative effects of alcohol consumption during pregnancy is the most important step in the breastfeeding process. It will lay the foundation for developing a nursing diagnosis and setting goals with one outcome in mind: a healthy baby. We now know that even a small amount of alcohol can cause birth defects. This is why patients should be informed and aware of the negative effects alcohol will have on their baby if they choose to drink during pregnancy...