Fetal Alcohol Effects

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is growth, mental, and physical problems that may occur in a baby when a mother drinks alcohol during pregnancy. What is FAS??

Symptoms of FAS Poor growth while the baby is in the womb and after birth Decreased muscle tone and poor coordination Delayed development and problems in three or more major areas: thinking, speech, movement, or social skills Heart defects such as ventricular septal defect (VSD) or atrial septal defect (ASD)

Problems with the face, including: Narrow, small eyes with large epicanthal folds Small head Small upper jaw Smooth groove in upper lip Smooth and thin upper lip

As the child approaches adolescence, the typical facial features become less pronounced. In some adults, facial characteristics have become so normalized that early childhood photographs must be used to confirm diagnosis

Symptoms of FAE Infants may show slow growth and developmental delay, unusual facial features, irritability, brain and neurological disorders, mental retardation and problems with their attachment to their fathers. Kids and school-age children may have problems with learning, low tolerance for frustration, inadequate social boundaries and difficulty reading. Teenagers can have continuous learning problems, depression, anxiety and inappropriate sexual behavior

This birth defect does not affect one part of the population more then the other. Although it would make sense that it would affect babies of younger mothers more because they might not know they are pregnant and go to parties and drink.

Is it genetic or environmental? No. This is environmental. Although alcoholism is genetic.

Diagnosis Must be based on solid evidence, its difficult to diagnose at and after. Small size and weight before and after birth (pre and post retardation) No lab test can determine FAS.

Most common features of FAS involve the growth, performance, intelligence, head and face, skeleton, and heart of the child Growth is slowed. Intelligence is diminished. The average IQ of a child with FAS is in the 60s. (This level is considered mild mental retardation and qualifies a child in the U.S. as educable mentally retarded.) Learning Disabilities

Cure / Treatments There is no medication or treatment that will reverse the symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome and the other disorders that are associated with alcohol-related birth defects. There is no treatment to reverse or change the physical features or brain damage associated with maternal alcohol use during the pregnancy.

There is no cure in the future, just more prevention. If your planning to be pregnant, are pregnant or there is a possibility of you being pregnant you should not drink alcohol what so ever. What affects your body affects the baby, and can cause disabilities. Such as, FAS or FAE. These are completely preventable by not drinking alcohol.

Provided grant funding for FAS They supported the National Council on Alcoholism in its push for legislation to bring public attention to the dangers of alcohol use by pregnant women. This led to a 1989 law mandating a warning label about the risk of birth defects that alcoholic beverages still carry today.