Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Fetal alcohol syndrome or FAS is caused by drinking during pregnancy. The child is then born with a range of disorders, referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, or FASD. Fetal alcohol syndrome is the most severe effect of prenatal alcohol exposure. FAS is the number one most preventable cause of mental retardation and birth defects. It is a condition that causes many mental and physical disabilities which will be present throughout one's lifetime. The most telling physical disabilities include abnormal facial features, growth deficiencies, and central nervous system problems. There are also many other secondary conditions that develop, which include mental health problems, learning problems, legal issues, and drug and alcohol problems later in life.

This disorder is caused by the alcohol in the mother's blood crossing through the placenta and entering the fetus through the umbilical chord. It has not yet been determined what happens after this point and what the critical times of exposure are. It is known that consuming alcohol during the first trimester results in the facial defects, but the central nervous system and behavioral disabilities could be caused by alcohol use at any time during pregnancy. Many people believe that it is okay to drink in moderation throughout pregnancy or at after a certain point, but to be safe, a women who is expecting a child should not drink until after the baby is born.

Although there is no cure for fetal alcohol syndrome, it is a completely preventable disorder. FAS results from drinking during pregnancy, so as soon as a woman discovers she is pregnant or wants to become pregnant, she should stop drinking immediately. Of course, this may not be so easy if the woman has an alcohol addiction. If this is the case, there are plenty of addiction treatment and addiction recovery programs that will be able to help with that type of a situation. If the woman is a heavy drinker and does not want to have a child, she should take extra measures to make sure that she does not unknowingly become pregnant because she may not realize she's expecting for several weeks.

An alcoholic woman may need a lot of support when she becomes pregnant. Often, this pregnancy is the first realization that she has an alcohol disease and must seek treatment. There are many programs set up for just that. It is important for the woman to remember that it is not just her life anymore. Getting help will not only better the mother's life, but the child's also. The reason that fetal alcohol syndrome exists is because women are not educated about this problem or because they are unaware of their pregnancy. Be sure you and your loved ones are not one of these women.

If you have a problem with alcohol, do not hesitate to get help. Many women don't realize that they have a problem until they want children, get pregnant, and realize that not drinking is more of a problem than they though it would be. Instead of deciding that your addiction is your weakness, decide what you really want out of life and get help in achieving those goals.