What´s Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a concise, uniform definition for conditions caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. FASD is a broad term used to describe the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy (Caley, Kramer, & Robinson, 2005). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder can also cause growth retardation, birth defectscomma and deficits in cognitive, languagecomma and motor development (Coles et al., 2015). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is a teratogenic effect, which is caused by daily, chronic, heavy and frequent alcohol use while in utero. Chances of an infant diagnosed with FASD are 0.5 to 3 in 1,000 live births (Cone-Wesson, 2005). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder has many different diagnoses. There is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), partial fetal alcohol syndrome (PFAS)comma and alcohol-related neuro-developmental disorder (ARND)comma all under the fetal alcohol spectrum disorder umbrella (Brown et al., 2015). Maternal alcohol use is correlated to the timing, frequencycomma and quantity of the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. Drinking during the first trimester may not be as detrimental as drinking during the second or third trimester. The frequency of alcohol consumed is also a key factor in FASD, such as how often per day drinks are consumed, the quantity of alcohol consumed, and how many glasses or cans per day the mother consumes

“Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects may include physical, mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications” (HHS, 2005). FASD refers to conditions such as: fetal alcohol syndrome including partial FAS, fetal alcohol effects (FAE), alcohol related neurodevelopment disorder, alcohol-related birth defects. The conditions that are involved with FASD can range from mild to severe and it is not likely that two people share the exact same symptoms.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a pattern of mental, physical, and behavioral defects that may develop in the unborn child when its mother drinks during pregnancy. These defects occur primarily during the first trimester when the teratogenic effects of the alcohol have the greatest effect on the developing organs. The symptoms associated with FAS have been observed for many centuries, but it was not until 1968 that Lemoine and his associates formally described these symptoms in the scientific literature, and again in 1973 when Jones and associates designated a specific pattern of altered growth and dysmorphogenesis as the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (Rostand, p. 302). The set of abnormalities characterized by Jones

Every year, about 40,000 babies are born with symptoms of prenatal alcohol exposure (Lupton, 2003). This number will only continue to grow if the risk of drinking alcohol while pregnant is not brought to the people’s attention. When the mother takes a drink of alcohol, so does the fetus, which will cause physical and behavioral problems after birth. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is completely preventable and irreversible. FAS awareness and prevention is important; expectant mothers need to know the background information about the syndrome, some common symptoms, signs, and treatments, and the mental and physical abnormalities that will occur because of this lifelong syndrome.

“Fetal alcohol syndrome is a condition in a child that results from alcohol exposure during the mother's pregnancy” (Fetal alcohol syndrome. n.d.). Each year 1 in 750 infants in the United States are born in the United States alone, while another 40,000 are born with alcohol fetal effects. This happens to a child when the mother continues to drink alcohol during her pregnancy. Fetal alcohol syndrome can cause mental, physical, developmental disabilities in the baby, while fetal alcohol effects are milder, less advanced form of fetal alcohol syndrome.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) refers to a group of physical and mental birth defects resulting from a women’s drinking alcohol heavily or at crucial stages during pregnancy. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome was first named and treated in the late 1960's. This condition results from the toxic effect of alcohol and its chemical factors on the developing fetus. FAS is the leading cause of mental retardation occurring in 1 out of every 750 births. The frequency of FAS occurs about 1.9 times out of every 1000 births according to the latest figures, and minor effects can be seen in up to 20% of pregnancies per year. This number changes drastically for women who are clearly alcoholics. As high as 29 children out of every 1000 births will suffer from FAS

Alcohol-related birth defects that may be present to those born with FAS can easily be identified because of the cluster of characteristic features involving facial appearance, growth and brain damage. Children born to mothers that drink heavily in pregnancy may also have serious congenital birth defects such as :

To begin with, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome are caused by a woman consuming alcohol while pregnant. This happens by, alcohol in the mother's blood passing to the baby through the umbilical cord. When mothers drink during any stage of their pregnancy it can cause the baby to be born with birth defects and to have multiple disabilities. Nevertheless ,there is no safe amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Alcohol can cause many problems to the developing baby and risk a miscarriage.

FAS or fetal alcohol syndrome is a severe form of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), and the effects of this condition are usually permanent. There are a wide range of symptoms and these are just a few: a small head, smooth ridge between the upper lip and nose, small and wide-set eyes, very thin upper lip, or other abnormal facial features and below average height and weight. (The Healthline Editorial Team). 2015. Another factor that may affect the fetus and the baby in future development is stress. When you’re stressed, your body goes into "fight or flight" mode, sending out a burst of cortisol and other stress hormones. These are the same hormones that surge when you are in danger. They prepare you to run by sending a blast of fuel to your muscles and making your heart pump faster. (Watson, S). 2013. Some studies show that chronic stress may lead to low birth weight, and this is when you alter your bodies stress management system. And based on what I have read I do feel that lower stress levels outweigh the minor risks of controlled alcohol consumption. This is due to the fact that there have been no studies that directley link moderate alcohol consumption to birth defects. FAS has been linked to mothers who abused alcohol during

The article, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Language Development Issues in the Classroom discusses the prevalence of alcohol consumption in pregnant mothers in the United States and how drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to babies being born with FAS. Children born with FAS can have problems with expressive and receptive language and/or problems with speech production. In terms of expressive language deficits, children with FAS may have problems with word retrieval and grammar (i.e., using the incorrect verb form in a sentence). Additionally, they may be fluent speakers, however, their speech may be devoid of content. Issues with receptive language can lead to comprehension difficulties, it can impact the child’s memory, sequencing

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) describes the range of problems related to alcohol exposure before birth. The problems range from mild to severe. With the consumption of alcohol it can cause baby to have mental as well as physical problem after the birth and this may last throughout his or her life.

These three Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders may have mild to severe effects on the fetus. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, is known for the physical abnormalities it causes. Children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome have abnormal facial features, such as a smooth ridge between the nose and upper lip, small head size, shorter than average height and low body weight. FAS also causes problems in the central nervous system and may cause a wide range of behavioral issues (CDC,2015). Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder has properties that may not be readily visible right after birth. The reason being that the disorder is based on the effects it has on the child intellectually and behaviorally. These effects are prominently seen when the child is older. These children have difficulties with math, memory, attention, judgment, and impulse control (CDC, 2015). The last Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder that will be discussed is Alcohol-Related Birth Defects (ARBD). The defects associated with this disorder are problems with the heart, kidneys, bones and hearing. Other consequences of alcohol consumption while pregnant include spontaneous abortion, sleep and sucking problems as a baby, and death. All of these consequences can be easily prevented if a mother chooses to abstain from drinking while she is pregnant.

Heavy drinking can also damage your baby's nervous system. This means that your baby may be born with foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). With age, the child can have mild learning difficulties, social problems or even have birth defects. A more severe condition is Foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) where the baby could be born with facial defects, be born small, and carry on being small for their age. They also have learning difficulties, poor muscle tone and coordination, and behavioural problems, for the rest of their

Alcohol is an addictive drug, cravings meet physical dependence and alcohol abuse turns into alcohol addiction. Unfortunately, some expecting mothers are the ones responsible for exposing some of our youngest victims to alcohol, their unborn children. An addiction like this can damage a fetus at any stage within a pregnancy and can follow with many birth defects. Maternal drinking has its consequences not only to herself but her unborn child as well. This child can face fetal alcohol spectrum disorders once he or she is born. Long term effects can include growth deficiencies, facial abnormalities, and damage to the brain and nervous system.

The term alcohol is applicable for: beer, wine, whiskey, vodka or other drinks containing this denomination. In other words alcohol with its most dangerous for the fetus product ethanol, which is so quickly adopted by the female organism, causes a wide range of destructive consequences. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome affects three major spheres of the fetus development: Growth retardation, Damage of Central Nervous System, Appearance of the infant. (“Fetal Alcohol Syndrome”)