Final answer:
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a severe result of a child being exposed to alcohol while in utero, characterized by developmental delays, behavioral issues, and distinctive facial features, as well as impaired mental functioning. There is no safe amount of alcohol that can be consumed during pregnancy, and the most effective prevention of FAS is complete abstinence from alcohol while pregnant.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a condition in a child that results from alcohol exposure during the mother's pregnancy. FAS causes a variety of developmental delays, behavioral issues, and distinctive facial features. These facial characteristics may include a small eye opening, smooth philtrum, and a thin upper lip. Impaired mental functioning and lowered body weight, rather than elevated birth weight, are common characteristics of FAS. Alcohol is a teratogen, and when consumed during pregnancy, it can have detrimental effects on the fetus. The severity and range of these effects can include cognitive deficits such as learning disabilities and lower IQ scores, as well as physical features like a reduced head size and abnormalities in craniofacial form.
There is no known safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, and FAS is considered to be the most severe form of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). The risks of FASDs increase with the amount and frequency of alcohol consumption, and these are especially high earlier in pregnancy. However, FASDs are completely preventable by abstaining from alcohol during pregnancy and while trying to conceive.