Consumption of alcohol during pregnancy is one of the most dangerous and harmful things a mother can do to her unborn infant. Alcohol is rapidly passed through the placenta to the unborn child. Because many internal organs are not fully developed, the fetus is not capable of eliminating alcohol from his/her system the way an adult is.
A single occasion of high alcohol intake during pregnancy is enough to damage the unborn child for life. Drinking large amounts of alcohol on a regular basis during pregnancy or drinking heavily during a critical stage of fetal development can cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, or FAS. FAS can cause a number of physical deformities. Facial deformities, skeletal deformities and deformities of the internal organs are jjst a few of the physical defects that can affect FAS victims.
Mental disabilities are common. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is the leading cause of mental retardation. Learning disabilities, decreased intellect, impaired memory, and inability to use logic and control behavior are among the possible symptoms. Many victims of fetal alcohol syndrome are never able to live independently due to their decreased mental capacities.
Fetal Alcohol Effect or FAE is a less severe form of damage. Low birth weight, Attention deficit disorder, decreased intellect and behavioral problems are associated with FAE. Both FAS and FAE are lifetime problems. There is no cure. While some of the facial deformities associated with FAS tend to decrease after puberty, the mental disabilities, especially the inability to control behavior, tend to increase.
FAS and FAE are 100% preventable. Women who are pregnant should not drink alcohol. There is no known safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Women who may possibly be pregnant should also abstain from alcohol. Critical stages of development occur in the first few weeks of pregnancy, and it is possible for a woman to cause the fetus severe damage before she even knows she is pregnant if her level of alcohol consumption is high enough.
Despite the fact that researchers have known the effects of Alcohol consumption by pregnant women for years, it still remains common. More babies are born with damage from their mother’s alcohol consumption than those with HIV, down syndrome and MD combined. It’s thought that many pregnant women are not sufficiently educated on the dangers of alcohol consumption and don’t fully understand the effects it can have on their unborn child.
If you are pregnant, or even possibly pregnant, don’t drink alcohol. If you know someone that is pregnant And a drinker, educate them on the effects of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. If you have trouble getting the point across, I recommend the book The Broken Cord by Michael Dorris. It is the biography of his adopted son, who suffered from FAS.

Related Links
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Information
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Fact sheet
Alcohol and Pregnancy
FAS

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