Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a combination of physical and mental disabilities that develops in babies before birth as a result of the mother drinking substantial amounts of alcohol during her pregnancy. I find this particular birth defect to be all the more heart breaking of them all because it is 100% preventable. The repercussions of the mother’s inability or lack of care for her unborn child to take on sobriety for nine months will last for the child’s entire life. There is NO cure for FAS.
It is not known exactly how much alcohol it takes a mother to consume for it to affect a growing fetus. However, heavily drinking everyday (5 drinks or more daily/equivalent of 3oz of pure alcohol a day) puts the fetus at extremely high risk. In the first 8 weeks of pregnancy, the baby’s nervous system is developing. The vulnerability of the baby’s brain is at the highest during the first 15-25 days of pregnancy as well as two periods of rapid brain growth in the 3rd month and from the 6th month to after birth. In addition to the brain being at high risk, so is the baby’s heart, eyes, legs, arms, teeth, ears, palate and external genitalia during the first trimester. The alcohol knows no bounds when it comes to harming the unborn child. Binge drinking and drinking during the first two months of pregnancy is considered to be the two strongest maternal predictors of postnatal neurobehavioral deficits.
Effects of FAS can vary but all side effects are for life including mental retardation. Mental retardation due to FAS is again, completely preventable but has been found to be the third most frequent cause of retardation next to Down Syndrome. Other effects are ADD, speech problems and facial and head abnormalities. The range of complications due to alcohol consumption is so vast because it all rests on how much the mother is drinking during the pregnancy.
Unfortunately for these children, statistics show that due to behavioral problems that are for the most part, out of the child’s control, they can have a very negative future involving alcohol abuse and criminal incidences. Raising awareness of FAS and supporting parents and foster parents caring for these children is their best bet for a good future. There are many support groups online as well as in communities all over the country that work to help parents and caregivers of children born with FAS. They work to help with the behavior issues, how to work through it, techniques that work and don’t work and help to keep you as up to date as possible with new research. It is a tough road ahead and you don’t have to take it a alone if you are a parent of an FAS child.
To every pregnant woman out there thinking about having a drink or may have a drinking problem, get help now. Choosing to not drink today can mean saving a child from a life time of potential pain and suffering. If you or someone you know needs help please check out the links below and get help now.
Support Groups:
http://www.nofas.org/living/resources.aspx
http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Fetal-Alcohol-Syndrome/support-group
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