If you drink during pregnancy, you may be putting your unborn child at risk for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The disturbing consequences can include various physical and mental birth defects, delayed development and possible lifelong abnormalities. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is one hundred percent preventable and can be avoided if a mother abstains from alcohol throughout her pregnancy, according to the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS).

Causes
There has never been a safe amount of alcohol confirmed for pregnant women, so many practitioners recommend no consumption at all. The fetus is extremely vulnerable during the first trimester, so even the doctors that allow a little consumption at the end of the pregnancy will warn women to avoid it completely early on. Any form of alcohol including beer, wine or liquor can be harmful to a developing fetus. When a pregnant woman drinks, the alcohol crosses through the placental barrier into the bloodstream of the fetus. When a baby is developing vital organs, the alcohol can potentially damage these structures, resulting in long-term consequences.

Effects
Once alcohol has damaged the fetus, the damage is permanent. There is no cure for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Consequences of FAS on the baby include:
· Mental retardation or borderline mental deficiency
· Intrauterine growth retardation: when the baby is born, the head circumference, height and weight are all usually below average.
· Abnormal brain development
· Facial abnormalities consisting of a smooth groove in the upper lip, narrow, small and unusual appearing eyes, a small head, an up-turned nose and a small upper jaw.
· Behavioral problems
· Heart defects (less common)
· Abnormalities in the limbs, including the hands, fingers, feet, toes, and joints.