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Editor's Note: This is the first of a two-part series on fetal alcohol syndrome. The first part deals with the definition and prevalence of the disorder. Part two will discuss treatment and intervention.
Jane picked up the shot glass and downed the whiskey in one quick swallow. She picked up the half full glass of beer and took several drinks.
The looks she received from the other patrons of the bar made her uneasy.
She opened her purse and removed the compact, checking her makeup and hair briefly before tucking it back into her purse.
What were they staring at, she thought. I don't see anything wrong.
It couldn't have been because she was drinking whiskey - lots of people were doing shots.
She was over 21 so it wasn't like she was doing anything illegal. She wasn't even planning on getting drunk. She was just going to have a couple shots of whiskey and a few beers and then get back home before the baby sitter started to worry.
The bartender walked up to the counter, picked up the empty shot glass and swiped a wet towel across the counter.
"I'd like another, please," said Jane, sliding a $5 bill across the damp counter.
The bartender stopped cleaning and set the empty glass back down. He started to say something then shook his head and pulled a bottle from the cabinet.
"You know," he said, "you probably shouldn't be drinking."
Jane looked at him quizzically.
"What do you mean?"
"In your condition," he added.
Jane frowned at him: "What are you talking about?"
The bartender sighed and shook his head.
"It's your choice," he muttered.
She knew something must be wrong but still had no idea what it could be.
She picked up the shot glass and drank, taking another drink of the beer immediately after.
She was starting to feel a little lightheaded and knew she should head home soon.
A woman walked up to the bar and sat down. She ordered a drink and then glanced over at Jane.
"When are you due?" the woman asked.
Jane smiled proudly and patted her stomach, "Any day now."
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Many people are unaware of what Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is, let alone what its effects are and how to prevent it.
For those who do not know, the March of Dimes has an information sheet which defines FAS as occurring "in children born to 2.5 percent of heavy drinkers (4-5 drinks a day."
The effects mentioned by the March of Dimes are: pre/postnatal growth retardation, central nervous system disorders and facial dysmorphia.
Withdrawal symptoms of newborn children of heavy drinkers are: seizures, hypertonia, inconsolable crying, irritability followed by tremors, abdominal distention, increased respiratory rate and fast heartbeat.
Every day in America, pregnant women, when they consume alcohol, are pouring martinis and other alcoholic drinks for their babies.
In Indiana, 231 confirmed cases, or 2.35 percent of newborn babies, are born with problems every year due to pre-natal substance abuse, including alcohol and other illegal drugs, said Maureen Greer, assistant deputy for the division of Family and Social Services at the Bureau of Child Development, Indianapolis.
Greer said that obtaining statistics for FAS is difficult because the affliction covers so much ground.
She said that, according to her figures, 34.2 percent of the children born in Kosciusko County last year, "could be" diagnosed as having FAS.
A percentage of everything a pregnant woman puts into her body is transferred to the fetus. When a woman eats healthy food, the fetus gets healthy food. When a woman gets drunk, the fetus gets drunk.
Many of the local FAS cases that go to the Cardinal Center's First Steps program, which helps infants and toddlers who have special needs, are not referred to them by a doctor, because FAS is difficult to diagnose at birth.
According to Candace Townsend, vice president of support services for Cardinal Center, doctors are often unaware of family backgrounds and don't know they should be looking for the symptoms.
Some of that responsibility lies with the parents, who find it difficult to take responsibility for their actions.
"I think it's very difficult for a family member to say, 'Oh, while I was pregnant I did this,'" said Townsend.
The most critical time, when abnormal features can be caused, is the first trimester. The brain is sensitive to alcohol, and the mother's consumption of alcohol can cause a decrease in the number of cells growing in the baby's brain during development. The result is a smaller brain with misplaced neurons.
The second trimester has the highest risk for miscarriage. During the third trimester, the fetus undergoes rapid growth, and alcohol impairs that growth. This is also the time when brain development is normally at its highest.
When a woman discovers she is pregnant, she should stop drinking completely. However, a problem arises when a woman is not aware she's pregnant.
