10% of pregnant women drink alcohol, according to research conducted by the Institute of Mother and Child in Warsaw. Alcohol is harmful at any time during pregnancy and even in small quantities, but it is most harmful during the first three months of pregnancy - when the baby's organs are being formed - then even the smallest dose of alcohol can cause the fetus to die or cause major malformations. Alcohol consumption later in pregnancy causes the baby to be born smaller and may be mentally handicapped.