What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Fetal Alcohol Effect (FAE)?
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is the name given to a group of physical and mental birth defects that is the direct result of a woman’s drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Defects can include mental retardation, growth deficiencies, central nervous system dysfunction, craniofacial abnormalities, and behavioral maladjustments. Fetal Alcohol Effect is a less severe set of the same symptoms. Ten Things You Need to Know* • Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) occurs in babies when pregnant women consume alcohol. • FAS is the leading cause of mental retardation in newborns. • As many as 12,000 infants are born with FAS each year, more than are born with Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). • FAS causes permanent mental and physical damage. • Symptoms may not become obvious until a child is 3 or 4 years old. • FAS is found in all races and all socio-economic groups. • There is no safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. • Even one
