| Facts about fetal alcohol syndrome: If you love wine | | | | Children diagnosed will initially show some -which will |
| but are planning to have a family soon, you may want | | | | display certain issues such as eye, ear and teeth |
| to start learning to say NO to alcohol. Mothers who | | | | problems. In the case of their teeth, there is often a |
| expect to give birth to healthy babies are advised to | | | | wrong alignment and malocclusion. Hearing is also |
| stay away from drinking while pregnant. | | | | impaired. |
| Here are some facts about fetal alcohol syndrome | | | | Other fetal alcohol syndrome symptoms are the |
| – also called FAS in medical circles: | | | | child’s impulsive behavior, irritability, attention deficit, |
| - While drinking during pregnancy may not necessarily | | | | lack of self-discipline and poor social skills. The child is |
| result in fetal alcohol syndrome, it is an accepted fact | | | | unable to detect social cues or tell right from wrong |
| that it can potentially cause birth defects; | | | | behavior. |
| - Because alcohol can cause birth defects, it is | | | | Some infants will exhibit more serious fetal alcohol |
| classified as a teratogen. A teratogen is defined as | | | | syndrome symptoms in the form of birth defects or |
| an agent that can disrupt the development of an | | | | deformities. Examples are hydrocephalus (this is a |
| embryo; | | | | condition that occurs when there is too much fluid |
| - FAS is manifested in the child’s growth, abilities, | | | | pressure in the brain), cleft lip (or sometimes a cleft |
| intelligence, appearance of the head and face, skeletal | | | | palate) and in more serious cases, spina bifida. |
| framework and heart. | | | | Spina bifida is an abnormal development of the brain, |
| - There is no standard for how much intake is safe | | | | spinal column and the meninges – the protective |
| during pregnancy. The best prevention is to avoid | | | | covering around the brain and spinal cord. About |
| alcohol altogether during the full nine months of | | | | 1,000 to 2,500 American babies each year are born |
| pregnancy. | | | | with this disorder. |
| Characteristics of fetal alcohol syndrome symptoms | | | | If you care about your future child, it is essential to |
| include: stunted or diminished growth, low weight at | | | | discuss pregnancy planning with your doctor because |
| birth and after birth, mental retardation (ranging from | | | | having a baby is a major life event. An ounce of |
| mild to severe), poor performance, mood swings, low | | | | prevention is worth a pound of cure, as the saying |
| IQ (in the 60s), small head size, abnormal posture, and | | | | goes, so if you’re planning to be a mother soon, |
| heart murmurs (which may or may not go away). | | | | avoid alcohol. |