MODEL RELEASED. Alcohol during pregnancy. Heavily pregnant woman sitting in a rocking chair, consumes an alcoholic drink. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can result in harmful effects to both the mother and unborn child. Overconsumption of alcohol can result in foetal alcohol syndrome, in which the baby may be born abnormally short, with small eyes and a small jaw, and may suffer heart defects or a cleft lip and palate. The affected baby may also suck poorly, sleep badly, and be irritable. Drinking also increases the mother's risk of miscarriage.