Which of the following is NOT a maternal effect of alcohol during pregnancy?

The presence of epilepsy as a potential effect of alcohol consumption during pregnancy is not regarded as a direct maternal effect. While alcohol exposure can lead to a range of complications and developmental issues in the fetus, including intrauterine growth restriction, low birth weight, and stillbirth, epilepsy itself is not classified among these effects. Instead, epilepsy is a neurological condition that may have different etiologies that can be exacerbated by factors such as stress or substance use, but it is not a specific outcome of alcohol exposure in the womb.

Intrauterine growth restriction refers to the condition where a fetus does not grow to its full potential inside the womb, which can be exacerbated by maternal alcohol use. Low birth weight is often a direct consequence of growth restriction due to inadequate prenatal nutrition or exposure to toxins, including alcohol. Stillbirth, the loss of a fetus after 20 weeks of gestation, can be linked to various pregnancy complications, including those caused by alcohol consumption. The other choices, therefore, represent more direct and commonly recognized impacts of alcohol on pregnancy outcomes.