Final answer:
Fetal alcohol syndrome can occur due to alcohol exposure as early as day 19 or 20 of gestation. There is no safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy, and FAS is entirely preventable by abstaining from alcohol while pregnant or trying to conceive.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a condition that results from alcohol exposure during the mother's pregnancy. FAS is part of a wider group of conditions known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). The developmental stage at which exposure to alcohol occurs can significantly affect the severity and characteristics of FAS.
Research using primate models of FASD has highlighted that exposure to alcohol on specific days of gestation could lead to significant facial abnormalities. Significant facial characteristics associated with FAS, such as a smooth philtrum, thin upper lip, and small eye openings, can result from alcohol exposure as early as days 19 or 20 of gestation. It is important to note that there is no safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy and any consumption poses a risk to the fetus.
FAS is entirely preventable. By abstaining from alcohol during pregnancy and even while trying to conceive, the risk of FASDs can be entirely avoided. Due to the vulnerability of the developing human organism, commonly referred to as a fetus from weeks 8 through 38 after fertilization, it is critical that expecting mothers avoid alcohol intake to prevent these lifelong effects on the child.