Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

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Mother's diet always affect her unborn baby in the womb. In that case when a woman drinks alcohol, her fetal baby also becomes alcoholic. The worst result of this is seen in children as fetal alcoholic syndrome (FAS).

Fetal alcoholic syndrome(FAS) is one of the leading preventable causes of birth defects. This preventable cause is certain to happen if the mother happens to drink alcohol during pregnancy. The baby born with FAS has a lifelong condition that causes physical and mental disabilities.

Fetal alcoholic spectrum disorders (FASDs) is a term that describe the variety of effects due to pregnancy alcoholism. The three major effects of pregnancy alcoholism are fetal alcohol effects (FAE), alcohol-related neuro developmental disorder (ARND), and alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD). Recent studies show that 0.2 to 1.5 percent of FAS births occur out of 1,000 live births in United States.

There is no evidence that how much alcohol consumption will produce the birth effects. Mothers who drink through the first trimester of pregnancy will have kids with more severe problems because that is when the brain will develop. The alcohol easily passes through the placental barrier. The fetus will be less equipped to eliminate the alcohol than its mother. Therefore the fetus receives a high concentration of alcohol, which lingers longer than it would be in the mother's system.

There are many adverse effects in children born with FAS. The most extreme outcome is the fetal death. Children with FASDs are at the risk of psychiatric problems such as poor coordination, hyperactive behaviour, learning disabilities and mental retardation or low IQ. They will also have the developmental disabilities like speech or walking delays. Children born with FAS often have facial abnormalities like small eye openings.

Children who are born with FASDs need a loving and nurturing home to avoid disruptive or harmful relationships. Children born with FAS can be aided with special education that enable them to achieve their developmental potential. Children with FAS, who live in unstable conditions are most likely to get involved in youth violence than other children with same plight.

There is only one way to prevent FAS that the mother should not consume alcohol while pregnant. Her husband or family can help her for not being alcoholic during pregnancy. Always remember that when a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy she risks giving birth to a child who will pay the price.