A Look at Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is surely one of the leading known preventable causes of mental and physical birth defects. A woman who drinks alcohol runs a great risk of causing serious birth defects to her unborn child. These mental and physical defects can, and usually do, last throughout their whole lives.


Consuming alcohol during pregnancy puts an unborn child at risk in several different ways. On top of the risk of stillbirth and miscarriage, just one alcoholic beverage per day can raise the risk of a child being born with extensive, lifelong physical and mental problems.

Some characteristics of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) include:

· Extremely under weight at birth
· Tiny circumference to the head
· Unable to survive
· A delay in development (mental and physical)
· Undeveloped organs
· Abnormal physical appearances – especially in the face
· Epilepsy
· Lack of motor skills and coordination
· An underdeveloped sense of creativity and imagination
· Lack of basic learning skills
· Unable to form personal relationships
· Problems in behavior