A photograph of a 5 month old baby born with fetal alcohol syndrome FAS Fetal alcohol syndrome is a pattern of mental and physical defects which develops in some unborn babies when the mother drinks too much alcohol during pregnancy A baby born with FAS may be seriously handicapped and require a lifetime of special care The symptoms are sometimes referred to as Fetal alcohol effects FAE Alcohol in a pregnant woman s bloodstream circulates to the fetus by crossing the placenta There the alcohol interferes with the ability of the fetus to receive sufficient oxygen and nourishment for normal cell development in the brain and other body organs Possible symptoms include growth deficiencies skeletal deformities facial abnormalities organ deformities and central nervous system handicaps
