Fetal alcohol effects

Health Canada - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect. Online. Available HTTP (accessed 2 April 2003). 

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a pattern of mental and physical defects that develops in some offspring when exposed to alcohol in utero. The first trimester is the most susceptible period. Some babies with alcohol-related birth defects, such as lower birth weight and body size and neurological impairments, do not have all of the classic FAS symptoms. These outcomes are often referred to as fetal alcohol effects (FAE). Currently there is not total agreement among medical scientists concerning the precise differences between FAE and FAS. In addition to growth retardation, the most common outcomes of fetal alcohol syndrome include psychomotor dysfunction and craniofacial anomalies. 

Famy C, Streissguth AP, Unis AS (1998) Mental illness in adults with fetal alcohol syndrome or fetal alcohol effects. Am J Psychiatry, 155(4) 552-554. 

Streissguth AP, Bookstein FL, Barr HM, Sampson PD, O Malley K, Young JK (2004) Risk factors for adverse life outcomes in fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects. J Dev Behav Pediatr, 25(4) 228-238. 

Mothers who report only social drinking may have children with fetal alcohol effects, a less severe form of fetal alcohol syndrome. This milder form is characterized by a reduced birth weight, some learning disabilities, and behavioral problems. 

MRI studies of children with FAS also show reduced volume of other specific brain structures, the reduced volume not related to any reduction in brain size.35 The caudate nucleus is an example. Damage is evident in the caudate nucleus of a variety of children with FAS and lesser fetal alcohol effects.36... 

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