Babies born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) experience firsthand some of the most serious consequences of alcohol consumed during pregnancy. Fetuses exposed to alcohol while in the womb can be born with a number of health and cognitive defects, which are grouped under the umbrella term of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. The leading cause of preventable birth defects, FASD causes cognitive, developmental and emotional problems that can last a lifetime.
Alcohol in a mother’s bloodstream ends up in her fetus’s bloodstream, potentially leading to disruption of the baby’s organs, including the liver and brain. The amount of alcohol a woman drinks while pregnant, the frequency at which she drinks, and the developmental stages that the fetus is going through at the time the mother is drinking all factor into the amount of harm put upon the baby. Though binge drinking and regular heavy drinking are the most common reasons babies are born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, no amount of alcohol during pregnancy is deemed safe, and any amount can cause lasting harm to the fetus.
Babies born with three distinguishing characteristics are diagnosed as having Fetal Alcohol Spectrum, which is the most serious form of FASD: babies with FAS have facial abnormalities that fit a specific pattern, such as a smooth ridge on the upper lip, a thin upper lip border, and wide-set, narrow eyes; they have central nervous system abnormalities; and they have growth that is stunted both prenatally and after birth. People born with FAS can have a host of other problems as well, including strange bone formation, immune system disorders, and smaller than average sized brains.
Other disorders that fall under FASD are Partial FAS, which is diagnosed when a baby has some but not all of the characteristics necessary to meet the FAS diagnoses; Alcohol Related Birth Defects, which includes physical abnormalities and difficulty seeing and hearing; and Alcohol Related Neurodevelopment Disorder, which causes cognitive and behavioral problems as well as central nervous system irregularities.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are believed to be underdiagnosed, as they share characteristics with people diagnosed with other disorders such as ADD and ADHD. FASD can create lifelong problems, making it difficult for a person to remember information and events, pay attention, manage money and handle necessary life skills, and regulate emotions. Persons born with FASD may also have trouble visualizing the consequences of their actions and may be more likely to repeat bad decisions and seek out poor influences.
Complicating the already difficult circumstances of people born with FASD, these people are also more likely to develop other disorders such as Depression, Alcoholism, and ADHD. The best way to prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders is to abstain from alcohol if you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, or are trying to conceive. Alcohol ingested during the early stages of embryo development, when a mother may not know she is expecting, can also have devastating consequences. If you find out you are pregnant after you have been drinking, then cease all alcohol intake immediately, seek out an experienced obstetrician, and make sure you receive adequate prenatal care during the course of your pregnancy.
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Henry Hernandez is a Certified Nurse who believes in educating women on pregnancy and birth options. He supports natural remedies to control pain and non-invasive techniques to help babies enter the world safely. He has worked with a rehabilitation center located in Orange, County CA for many years now, www.stephouserecovery.com. You can find Henry on Google+.
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This was an incredibly informative and very helpful post. I suspected someone working with me had issues, so I have been researching the symptoms. He served in the Marines, so I assumed he was suffering from PTSS. Now I can say in all likelihood it’s Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, because of the symptoms and he did mention his mother was an alcoholic. Too bad alcoholic parents go unpunished for putting their children through this horror. Oh, and my co-worker is a mild case. He is a hard worker and a nice person, but has obvious problems focusing that could put him in harms way. Now I know what the problem is I will reassign him to where he will be away from dangerous machinery.