When I think of outside forces effecting a growing fetus I automatically think of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, these environmental agents that can cause damage are known as teratogens. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is the all encompassing diagnoses that includes, fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), partial fetal alcohol syndrome (p-FAS), and alcohol related neuro-developmental disorder (ARND). Prenatal alcohol exposure can have serious and permanent adverse effects on children. The extent and severity of a child' s condition depends on several factors, such as how much alcohol the pregnant mother consumed and how often and at what point during her pregnancy she drank. Usually with heavy drinking the most serious outcome fetal alcohol syndrome arises. This is characterized by 3 main points, slow physical growth, a distinctive pattern of abnormal facial features and central nervous system disorders.
             Fetal Alcohol Syndrome effects the entire growth process for babies because the brain is in development from the third week of pregnancy, however there are critical areas, it would affect weeks 9-20 the most because that is the time when they are most susceptible. By the second trimester most of the brains billions of neurons are already in place but the cells that support and feed the neurons known as glial cells are increasing at a rapid rate, from now until even after birth the brain weight will increase ten times over. During the last 3 months of pregnancy the cerebral cortex where most of human intelligence lies enlarges and continues to grow. The most brain growth occurs during this time, the brain also begins to "wrinkle" inside the skull promoting maximum surface area for a small skulls that still needs to go through the birth canal. It is for these reasons that these times in prenatal development from the 9th week up to the 38th week are so important for the mother to abstain from alcohol and let the brain develop. Prenatal alcohol exposu...