Final answer:
Alcohol consumed by a pregnant woman can severely affect her unborn child. It can result in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) with physical abnormalities and cognitive deficits. The timing of alcohol exposure during pregnancy can have a significant impact on the development of facial characteristics associated with fetal alcohol syndrome.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alcohol consumed by a pregnant woman can severely affect her unborn child because alcohol crosses the placenta, and the unborn child has not developed the enzymes to metabolize alcohol.
When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, it can enter the embryo's or fetus's blood and cause many abnormalities in growth and development. This can result in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) with life-long consequences for the child, including physical abnormalities and cognitive deficits.
Research has shown that the timing of alcohol exposure during pregnancy can dramatically affect the appearance of facial characteristics associated with fetal alcohol syndrome, highlighting the specific periods of development when the fetus is most susceptible to the teratogenic effects of alcohol