There is no known safe amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant and there also does not appear to be a safe time to drink during pregnancy either.
Therefore, it is recommended that women abstain from drinking alcohol at any time during pregnancy. The following was adapted from the Centers
for Disease Control website.
What are FAS and FASDs?
Prenatal exposure to alcohol can cause a range of disorders, known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). One of the most severe effects of drinking during pregnancy is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
FAS is one of the leading known preventable causes of mental retardation and birth defects. If a woman drinks alcohol during her pregnancy, her baby can be born with fetal alcohol syndrome, a lifelong condition
that causes physical and mental disabilities.
Fetal alcohol syndrome is characterized by abnormal facial features, growth deficiencies, and central nervous system (CNS) problems. People with fetal alcohol syndrome might have problems
with learning, memory, attention span, communication, vision, hearing, or a combination of these. These problems often lead to difficulties in school and problems getting along with others. Fetal alcohol
syndrome is a permanent condition. It affects every aspect of an individual's life and the lives of his or her family.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) is an umbrella term describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects include physical,
mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications. The term FASDs is not intended for use as a clinical diagnosis.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) include FAS as well as other conditions in which individuals have some, but not all, of the clinical signs of FAS. All fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are 100%
preventable, if a woman does not drink alcohol while she is pregnant.
How common are fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs)?
The reported rates of fetal alcohol syndrome vary widely. These different rates depend on the population studied and the surveillance methods used. CDC studies show fetal alcohol syndrome rates ranging
from 0.2 to 1.5 per 1,000 live births in different areas of the United States. Other FASDs are believed to occur approximately three times as often as fetal alcohol syndrome.
What are the characteristics of children with FAS and other fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs)?
Fetal alcohol syndrome is the severe end of a spectrum of effects that can occur when a woman drinks during pregnancy. Fetal death is the most extreme outcome. FAS is a disorder characterized by abnormal
facial features and growth and central nervous system (CNS) problems. Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) might have the following characteristics or exhibit the following behaviors:
- Small size for gestational age or small stature in relation to peers
- Facial abnormalities such as small eye openings
- Poor coordination
- Hyperactive behavior
- Learning disabilities
- Developmental disabilities (e.g., speech and language delays)
- Mental retardation or low IQ
- Problems with daily living
- Poor reasoning and judgment skills
- Sleep and sucking disturbances in infancy
Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are at risk for psychiatric problems, criminal behavior, unemployment, and incomplete education. These are secondary conditions
that an individual is not born with but might acquire as a result of fetal alcohol syndrome or a related disorder.
If you think your child might have an fetal alcohol spectrum disorder , contact your doctor who might be able to refer you to a specialist who can assess your child.
How can we prevent fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs)?
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are completely preventable, if a woman does not drink alcohol while she is pregnant or could become pregnant. If a woman is drinking during pregnancy, it is never
too late for her to stop. The sooner a woman stops drinking, the better it will be for both her baby and herself.
If a woman is not able to stop drinking, she should contact her doctor, local Alcoholics Anonymous, or local alcohol treatment center. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
has a Substance Abuse Treatment Facility locator. This locator helps people find drug and alcohol treatment programs in their area. If
a woman is sexually active and is not using an effective form of birth control, she should not drink alcohol. She could become pregnant and not know it for several weeks or more.
In February 2005, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an Advisory on Alcohol Use in Pregnancy to raise public awareness about this important health concern. To reduce prenatal
alcohol exposure, prevention efforts should target not only pregnant women who are currently drinking, but also women who could become pregnant, are drinking at high-risk levels, and are having unprotected
sex. |
