Defying Gravity series continues. Jokes apart, Did you know? Scientific research has shown that alcohol passes from the blood to the unborn baby through the placenta. This passage of alcohol could affect the development of the baby’s brain, spinal cord and other organs. Babies born affected by alcohol are described as having a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, or FASD. Moreover, alcohol increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth. This topic was briefly touched upon while we addressed the topic of Zika outbreak in Brazil.