Alcohol Cause Of Many Preventable Birth Defects
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Editor's Note: This is the second in a two-part series on fetal alcohol syndome.
The National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome said that alcohol "produces by far the most serious neurobehavioral effects in the fetus when compared to other drugs including heroin, cocaine and marijuana."
Unfortunately, three times as many women use alcohol than use illegal drugs.
According to NOFAS, one out of every five pregnant women has been known to use alcohol and/or other drugs during her pregnancy.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is the leading known cause of mental retardation, according to NOFAS.
Another less dramatic form of FAS is called FAE, or Fetal Alcohol Effects, and is characterized by less severe birth defects.
There are more than 50 different disorders associated with alcohol abuse.
According to the ARC, a national organization for mental retardation, the most common effects of FAS and FAE, or fetal alcohol effects, are: low birth weight, facial disfigurements, mental retardation, alcohol withdrawal at birth, sleep disturbances, restlessness and irritability, learning disabilities and heart and kidney defects.
NOFAS said the probability of having a child with FAS increases with the frequency and amount of alcohol consumed. Therefore it is especially important that young girls, ages 14-18, take precautions when consuming alcohol.
The National Council on Alcoholism has said that nearly 100,000 10- and 11-year-olds get drunk at least once a week.
"Given the estimates of the incidence of FAS and FAE, more than 3,300 babies born to teenagers might be affected by FAS or FAE in one year," said The ARC.
It is estimated that full-blown FAS occurs in one out of 750 live births. FAE has been estimated to occur in 11 live births out of 1,000.
If the mother is an alcohol-abuser FAS has been known to occur in 30 percent of the recorded live births.
According to The ARC, "When a pregnant woman drinks an alcoholic beverage, the concentration of alcohol in her unborn baby's bloodstream is the same level as her own.
"In fact, the unborn baby's blood alcohol concentration is even higher than the mother's during the second and third hour after a drink is consumed."
The liver of a fetus cannot process alcohol at the adult rate of one ounce every two hours. High concentrations of alcohol, therefore, stay in the fetus longer, often for up to 24 hours.
FAS and FAE represent the largest number of birth defects that are 100 percent preventable.
While some people believe FAS and FAE are curable or repairable in some way, that is not true. Birth defects caused by alcohol are permanent.
But Candace Townsend, Vice President of Support Services for Cardinal Center, Inc., said that any kind of early intervention will assist the child.
At First Steps, after the child is diagnosed as having FAS/FAE, he or she undergoes an evaluation and then a speech pathologist and therapist work on developing the child's motor skills.
A service coordinator works with the family's wishes and needs in identifying therapy options and helping the child with socialization, introducing them into a class where they can be with other children their own age.
While surgery, schools and day care centers can help improve mental and physical development, children born with FAS remain below average in development.
It is up to prospective parents to take responsibility and have the woman stop drinking alcohol when planning a pregnancy.
If an unplanned pregnancy occurs, the woman should stop alcohol consumption immediately.
But all of the responsibility should not be laid on the woman's shoulders. While the man is not required to quit consuming alcohol, it is recommended because of the influence his actions can have on the woman.
According to The ARC, it is very important for the partner and other family and friends to support the woman during the pregnancy, even more so if she has a history of heavy alcohol consumption. [[In-content Ad]]
Editor's Note: This is the second in a two-part series on fetal alcohol syndome.
The National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome said that alcohol "produces by far the most serious neurobehavioral effects in the fetus when compared to other drugs including heroin, cocaine and marijuana."
Unfortunately, three times as many women use alcohol than use illegal drugs.
According to NOFAS, one out of every five pregnant women has been known to use alcohol and/or other drugs during her pregnancy.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is the leading known cause of mental retardation, according to NOFAS.
Another less dramatic form of FAS is called FAE, or Fetal Alcohol Effects, and is characterized by less severe birth defects.
There are more than 50 different disorders associated with alcohol abuse.
According to the ARC, a national organization for mental retardation, the most common effects of FAS and FAE, or fetal alcohol effects, are: low birth weight, facial disfigurements, mental retardation, alcohol withdrawal at birth, sleep disturbances, restlessness and irritability, learning disabilities and heart and kidney defects.
NOFAS said the probability of having a child with FAS increases with the frequency and amount of alcohol consumed. Therefore it is especially important that young girls, ages 14-18, take precautions when consuming alcohol.
The National Council on Alcoholism has said that nearly 100,000 10- and 11-year-olds get drunk at least once a week.
"Given the estimates of the incidence of FAS and FAE, more than 3,300 babies born to teenagers might be affected by FAS or FAE in one year," said The ARC.
It is estimated that full-blown FAS occurs in one out of 750 live births. FAE has been estimated to occur in 11 live births out of 1,000.
If the mother is an alcohol-abuser FAS has been known to occur in 30 percent of the recorded live births.
According to The ARC, "When a pregnant woman drinks an alcoholic beverage, the concentration of alcohol in her unborn baby's bloodstream is the same level as her own.
"In fact, the unborn baby's blood alcohol concentration is even higher than the mother's during the second and third hour after a drink is consumed."
The liver of a fetus cannot process alcohol at the adult rate of one ounce every two hours. High concentrations of alcohol, therefore, stay in the fetus longer, often for up to 24 hours.
FAS and FAE represent the largest number of birth defects that are 100 percent preventable.
While some people believe FAS and FAE are curable or repairable in some way, that is not true. Birth defects caused by alcohol are permanent.
But Candace Townsend, Vice President of Support Services for Cardinal Center, Inc., said that any kind of early intervention will assist the child.
At First Steps, after the child is diagnosed as having FAS/FAE, he or she undergoes an evaluation and then a speech pathologist and therapist work on developing the child's motor skills.
A service coordinator works with the family's wishes and needs in identifying therapy options and helping the child with socialization, introducing them into a class where they can be with other children their own age.
While surgery, schools and day care centers can help improve mental and physical development, children born with FAS remain below average in development.
It is up to prospective parents to take responsibility and have the woman stop drinking alcohol when planning a pregnancy.
If an unplanned pregnancy occurs, the woman should stop alcohol consumption immediately.
But all of the responsibility should not be laid on the woman's shoulders. While the man is not required to quit consuming alcohol, it is recommended because of the influence his actions can have on the woman.
According to The ARC, it is very important for the partner and other family and friends to support the woman during the pregnancy, even more so if she has a history of heavy alcohol consumption. [[In-content Ad]]