Causes
FAS and FAE are caused during pregnancy by the mother drinking alcohol. Alcohol damages the developing brain and nervous system of the baby, leading to mental, physical, and developmental problems.
The following factors affect whether FAS or FAE will occur and how severe the condition may be:
- timing of alcohol use during the pregnancy
- amount and frequency of alcohol consumption
- the mother's general health
- resources available to the mother
Consuming alcohol in any form during pregnancy is dangerous to the fetus. Alcohol is officially classified as a known teratogen, which means it can cause birth defects in the fetus. The more alcohol a pregnant woman drinks, the greater the risk of the fetus developing FAS or FAE. Drinking early in pregnancy may cause changes in the facial features, heart and other organs, bones, and the central nervous system.
In 1995, studies estimated that FAS occurred in one to two of every 1,000 live births. The lack of awareness of the effects of alcohol as a teratogen on a developing fetus is one reason for the high incidence of FAS and FAE.