Well, first thing’s first— just what is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is defined as a group of problems that are associated with children born to mothers who drank alcohol during their pregnancy.[1]It is the most common and PREVENTABLE cause of impaired brain development among children, and a most tragic effect of alcoholism. Regrettably, children with alcohol fetal syndrome occur at 3 per 1000 births all over the world, involving between 4,000 and 12,000 newborns per year in the United States alone.[2]
How does FAS Syndrome occur?
Alcohol abuse before the mother got pregnant has the same effects on the mother as it would during pregnancy. When a woman with a drinking problem becomes pregnant, the baby may suffer inside the womb, or worse newborn showing signs and symptoms of alcohol fetal consequences. What is interesting about alcohol is that it is one of the many drugs that are able to reach the fetus through the placenta.
The developing child is defenseless against fetal alcohol in his or her body, allowing alcohol to deliver its effects full force. FAS, or Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, is especially probable when the mother’s binge drinking occurs within the first three months into pregnancy although the baby is still significantly affected by alcohol even in the later months.[3]
What are the effects of FAS Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?
According to the TCHP Education Consortium, diagnosis of FAS must be based on manifestations seen in ALL of the following areas[4]:
- Growth Retardation – the child‘s growth is generally slower than normal children. This may be evident even when the child is still inside the womb.
- Learning Dysfunction – general impairment in brain development leads memory deficits, inattention, hyperactivity, delays in communications skills and poor coordination
- Head and facial abnormalities – along with general learning dysfunction, children can also manifest an distorted facial features such as having small and widely separated eyes, short, an overturned nose, undeveloped jaw, among others
These manifestations are often subtle and diagnosing FAS may not occur until the child is several years old , or when developmental delays are apparent.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome disorder is an appalling condition which is utterly preventable. Its most convenient definition would be, taking away a child’s life before they even have the chance to live it. It is said that drinking alcohol in moderation is acceptable for pregnant mothers to be, but once the moderation element is left out this equation, the results can be absolutely devastating for the child. If there is any doubt in the mother’s mind as to whether she can control the amount of alcohol that she is drinking, it should be left out altogether during pregnancy.
[1] http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregnancy/fetal/068.html
[2] www.asmalldoseof.org
[3] http://www.slideworld.org/patient/slideshow.aspx/Fetal-alcohol-syndrome-ppt-2843883
[4] http://www.faslink.org/FASbook2.pdf