A mother glows in anticipation of her unborn child. She will take utmost care of herself as well as her fetus, so that she is able to give birth to a healthy baby. The health of the baby depends entirely on the woman's health. However, not all women understand the responsibility they have towards their unborn child. A few women tend to throw caution to the wind and consume alcohol amounts above the safe levels all through their pregnancy. Drinking beer, wine or liquor while pregnant can cause considerable damage to the fetus. This damage leads to a condition called the fetal alcohol syndrome. This is a very serious situation as there is 1 birth in every 750 births in the United States with this syndrome every year.
What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Also referred to as FAS, it is a rare disease or condition that develops due to exposure to alcohol during pregnancy. This condition leads to defects that are irreversible and include physical, mental and behavioral problems. This condition is preventable, if one stops consuming alcohol when pregnant. The defects the fetus suffers from lasts for life, ruining the chances of a bright future for the child. This is not just a single birth defect due to the negative effects of alcohol. Instead fetal alcohol syndrome represents an entire group of disorders. These disorders are together called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).
Causes
The main reason for the causes is obviously consumption of alcohol. But, have you ever thought how does alcohol affect the fetus? The alcohol reaches the fetus by crossing the placenta through the blood stream. A fetus obviously cannot metabolize alcohol as efficiently and quickly like an adult body. Thus, the concentration of alcohol in the fetal body reaches very high levels. The alcohol in the fetal body interferes with the ability to take up oxygen and other vital nutrients, thus, affecting the growth of vital organs like brain, tissues, etc. The impaired facial features, heart defects and central nervous system problems occur during the first trimester of pregnancy. The more alcohol one consumes, the more risk of defects for the fetus. The brain can be damaged anytime during pregnancy due to consumption of alcohol in really high levels.
Symptoms
One of the main symptoms is mental retardation. The level of mental retardation depends on each individual case. Some of the symptoms and signs are as follows:
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for fetal alcohol syndrome. The physical as well as mental defects as mentioned above remain for life. Sometimes surgery is an option for children with heart defects. Learning disorders need special education services. Behavioral intervention may also help overcome conduct as well as reactive attachment disorders.
There is no known safe level or amount of alcohol to be consumed during pregnancy. If one discovers they are pregnant, they should stop drinking alcohol till childbirth. I am sure one can survive without drinking alcohol for just 9 months, instead of risking the entire life of the unborn child. FAS is a condition that can be compared with child abuse. You are putting a life at risk by disregarding the safety of the child in your womb. Remember, abstinence from alcohol is the only cure for this syndrome.
What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Also referred to as FAS, it is a rare disease or condition that develops due to exposure to alcohol during pregnancy. This condition leads to defects that are irreversible and include physical, mental and behavioral problems. This condition is preventable, if one stops consuming alcohol when pregnant. The defects the fetus suffers from lasts for life, ruining the chances of a bright future for the child. This is not just a single birth defect due to the negative effects of alcohol. Instead fetal alcohol syndrome represents an entire group of disorders. These disorders are together called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).
Causes
The main reason for the causes is obviously consumption of alcohol. But, have you ever thought how does alcohol affect the fetus? The alcohol reaches the fetus by crossing the placenta through the blood stream. A fetus obviously cannot metabolize alcohol as efficiently and quickly like an adult body. Thus, the concentration of alcohol in the fetal body reaches very high levels. The alcohol in the fetal body interferes with the ability to take up oxygen and other vital nutrients, thus, affecting the growth of vital organs like brain, tissues, etc. The impaired facial features, heart defects and central nervous system problems occur during the first trimester of pregnancy. The more alcohol one consumes, the more risk of defects for the fetus. The brain can be damaged anytime during pregnancy due to consumption of alcohol in really high levels.
Symptoms
One of the main symptoms is mental retardation. The level of mental retardation depends on each individual case. Some of the symptoms and signs are as follows:
- Microcephaly (small head circumference)
- Low birth weight
- Delay in growth and development
- Dysfunctional organs
- Epilepsy
- Heart defects
- Vision and hearing problems
- Sleep disorders
- Poor motor skills and coordination
- Poor social skills like making friends, building relationships, etc.
- Lack of imagination
- Learning disorders, poor language or communication skills, inability to understand problems and concepts like money or time
- Very poor memory power
- Hyperactivity
- Lack of concentration
- Stubborn and impulsive nature
- Social withdrawal as well as social anxiety
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for fetal alcohol syndrome. The physical as well as mental defects as mentioned above remain for life. Sometimes surgery is an option for children with heart defects. Learning disorders need special education services. Behavioral intervention may also help overcome conduct as well as reactive attachment disorders.
There is no known safe level or amount of alcohol to be consumed during pregnancy. If one discovers they are pregnant, they should stop drinking alcohol till childbirth. I am sure one can survive without drinking alcohol for just 9 months, instead of risking the entire life of the unborn child. FAS is a condition that can be compared with child abuse. You are putting a life at risk by disregarding the safety of the child in your womb. Remember, abstinence from alcohol is the only cure for this syndrome.