The Preventable Tragedy of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

You may be like one of millions of Americans who just loves to sit down and have a fruit flavored wine cooler or maybe to pop open a beer at a local baseball game. Seems harmless right? Maybe not! That cold, delicious brew might bring untold tragedy to a helpless life, or your family for years to come if you are of child bearing age and you drink. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder is a very real and present danger to the children of young women who drink and who have sex without protection. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is one of the leading causes of mental retardation and physical deformities according to the National C.D.C.

More than half of pregnancies in the United States are unplanned. Women who become pregnant are often not sure of their pregnancies for days or weeks after conception, when a developing fetus is fragile and vulnerable to outside influences, including medications, illicit drugs and casual drinking. By the time a woman realizes she is pregnant much of a developing embryo or fetus' is already on it's way to being formed both internally and externally. For every child that is diagnosed with F.A.S. there are an estimated 3 children who do not have any outward physical characteristics of the syndrome but who are manifesting neuro-behavioral deficits.

Many women think that drinking is a safe alternative to using illegal drugs and having a drink or two and has often been encouraged by physicians to relax a nervous or breast feeding mother to be . This advice has changed with the results of many studies and much tragic evidence.There is no safe amount of alcohol that can be consumed by any woman or girl capable of conceiving, as any amount can cause irrefutable harm to a developing child says the Office of The Surgeon General. During the first twelve weeks of intrauterine development a embryo is coming together physically. Limbs, eyes, ears and internal organs are being formed. Much of the fetus' brain development and central nervous system develops in the later months. Alcohol drank by the mother crosses the placenta freely and enters the embryo or fetus through the umbilical cord. F.A.S. is a lifelong condition that can cause life-long physical and mental deficiencies and can be 100% prevented by not drinking at all.

In the U.S. the prevalence of F.A.S. is between 0.2 to2 cases per 1000 births. Some of the signs of (F.A.S.D.) Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder are as follows:

1. Facial abnormalities such as small eye openings.
2. Small size for gestational age or small structure.
3. Sleep and sucking disturbances in infants.
4. Speech and language delays.
5. Hyperactivity.
6. Learning disabilities.
7. Mental retardation or low I.Q.
8. Poor coordination
9. Poor reasoning and judgment.
10. Problems with activities of daily living.

The effects of a man's drinking is still undetermined and is being studied. Partners can support and encourage their wives or girl-friends to abstain from drinking during their childbearing years. Anytime that you drink, so does your unborn baby! Remember it is never to late to stop drinking! If you have discovered that you are pregnant and have been drinking, contact your physician and stop drinking immediately! Your baby's future depends on you.

Sources used are as follows: www.surgeongeneral.gov/pressreleases/sg02222005.html
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fas/default.htm