What are the signs that a child has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?
If a woman drinks alcohol while she is pregnant, it can harm her baby. There doesn’t seem to be a connection between how much a woman drinks and how seriously her child is affected, except that “binge drinking” may be especially harmful to the growing fetus. Since any amount of alcohol may cause problems, the U.S. Surgeon General’s recommendation is that women completely avoid alcohol if they are pregnant or might become pregnant. There is no “safe” amount of alcohol during pregnancy. Babies born to mothers who drink during pregnancy can have what is called fetal alcohol syndrome. These babies may be born early, they are often underweight and do not grow well. They may have certain characteristic facial features like a thin upper lip and small eye openings. The little vertical groove between the upper lip and the nose (called the philtrum) can be flattened. Other physical signs that go along with fetal alcohol syndrome include a small head, short nose, and problems with the way the hea
