Exposure to alcohol during gestation can cause persistent abnormalitie
s in physical and cognitive development. Children who meet the clinica
l definition of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) are small for their age,
exhibit characteristic facial anomalies, and demonstrate deficits in c
entral nervous system development. Alcohol effects in children with pr
enatal exposure, but not FAS, are similar, although of smaller magnitu
de and not necessarily present in all three systems. The degree to whi
ch a person is affected by prenatal alcohol exposure depends on the am
ount, timing, and duration of the mother's alcohol consumption during
pregnancy as well as maternal characteristics (e.g., age and comorbid
psychiatric disorders) and environmental factors (e.g., socioeconomic
status and family problems). Some exposure-related effects, such as gr
owth deficits, are directly related to the amount of alcohol consumed,
however, so that even a small amount of alcohol may affect child deve
lopment. Therefore, the best policy continues to be abstinence during
pregnancy.