Which benefit is associated with avoiding alcohol during pregnancy?

Avoiding alcohol during pregnancy significantly reduces the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). These disorders encompass a range of effects that can occur in a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy, leading to lifelong challenges related to physical, behavioral, and learning issues. By abstaining from alcohol, the developing fetus is protected from these potential harms, allowing for healthier growth and development. This makes it a critical recommendation for pregnant individuals, as FASDs can have a profound impact on a child's quality of life and development.

While improvements in financial stability, social life, and energy levels could be indirect benefits of avoiding alcohol, they do not hold the substantial health implications that the prevention of FASDs does. The most compelling and direct benefit remains the safeguarding of the unborn child from the adverse effects of alcohol exposure.