Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Risks, Effects & Development

Women who drink alcohol during pregnancy put their unborn baby at risk for fetal alcohol syndrome. Fetal alcohol syndrome has many negative effects on mental and physical development.

Growth

• Growth deficiency is an effect of fetal alcohol syndrome. Prenatal exposure to alcohol can lead to significantly below average weight and height.

Facial Features

• Fetal alcohol syndrome causes facial abnormalities, including flattened cheekbones, small eye openings, small head size, and a flattened groove between the upper lip and nose.

Neurological

• Neurological problems caused by fetal alcohol syndrome are highly likely to some degree. These impairments include epilepsy, motor skill impairment, hearing loss and clumsiness.

Functional

• Depending on severity, fetal alcohol syndrome can affect a person's everyday ability to function. These effects include behavior problems, learning difficulties, poor memory and poor socialization skills.

Brain Development

• During the first trimester, alcohol interferes with brain development of the fetus. This developmental interference causes deficits within the brain and structural deformities.