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    What increases the chances of developing fetal alcohol syndrome?

    The risks to an unborn baby from the mother's alcohol consumption are related to three main factors: 1) Quantity - how much alcohol the mother drinks. 2) Timing - at what point in the pregnancy she drinks. 3) Frequency - how often she drinks. The risk of alcohol-related damage to the baby increases the more, the earlier and the more frequently the mother drinks. Maternal binge drinking is particularly risky. Other factors that can affect a baby's chances of developing fetal alcohol syndrome include: maternal smoking and use of recreational drugs; maternal stress and anxiety during pregnancy, or poor prenatal care; low socio-economic status, and; genetic susceptibility - some people and some populations have been found to be genetically more prone to fetal alcohol syndrome.

    Answered on 07 Apr 2016. Medically reviewed by Health&

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