FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME Innocent Babies Affected by Drugs & Alcohol

How does alcohol use affect an unborn child? Pregnancy & Alcohol How does alcohol use affect an unborn child? 2

What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome? FAS: severe birth defects present in babies born to mothers who drink alcohol during their pregnancy; leading cause of mental retardation When a mother consumes alcohol, it is absorbed into the bloodstream at the same rate for the infant as it is absorbed for the mother. Ethanol has a toxic effect on the fetus causing physiological and central nervous system damage. FAS is the leading cause of mental retardation.

FAS 3 out of 1,000 births birth defects caused by alcohol! Most damaged is done during the 1st trimester

Characteristics of FAS: Mental retardation Birth defects Abnormal facial features Growth problems Trouble remembering Trouble learning Vision or hearing problems Behavior problems Flat mid face, smooth philtrum, underdeveloped jaw, thin upper lip, small head

Facial Characteristics of FAS

Signs of FAS Heart, Liver, and Kidney defects Hard to care for, ill a lot, slow physical and mental development. Small head size, hyperactivity, short stature, mental retardation 1 in 5 women drink alcohol during pregnancy – CDC Characteristics will last a lifetime. FAS