The effects of acute alcohol intoxication on biophysical activities: a case report

A computer-assisted biophysical assessment was performed in a woman with chronic alcoholism at 37 weeks' gestation. She was first seen in a state of acute alcohol intoxication (322 mg/dl). Although fetal breathing movement incidence was normal (30%), fetal tachypnea (67 breaths per minute) and decreased fetal body movements (0.11%) were seen. Because these findings differ from those previously reported with regard to normal pregnancies exposed to lower levels of alcohol, their implications are discussed.