Alcohol Effects On Child Development

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a pattern of mental, physical, and behavioral defects that may develop in the unborn child when its mother drinks during pregnancy. These defects occur primarily during the first trimester when the teratogenic effects of the alcohol have the greatest effect on the developing organs. The symptoms associated with FAS have been observed for many centuries, but it was not until 1968 that Lemoine and his associates formally described these symptoms in the scientific literature, and again in 1973 when Jones and associates designated a specific pattern of altered growth and dysmorphogenesis as the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (Rostand, p. 302). The set of abnormalities characterized by Jones

Even though there are many studies that highlight the damaging effects of maternal alcohol use on a fetus in utero, there are a multitude of other substances that are used by pregnant mothers that have similar and even, in some cases, more extreme repercussions such as marijuana, heroin, and cocaine. When speaking about pregnancy and drug use, the most common drug that comes to mind is alcohol. During 12 years of schooling, most people are exposed, at one point or another, to the idea of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and the detrimental effects of alcohol on a fetus in utero. The effects of maternal use of the aforementioned illicit drugs is less studied, partially because they are used less frequently. It is important, however, that as a population, we become more educated about these drugs and the potentially life threatening outcomes for babies in utero.

To clearly distinguish a child as having FAS poses a difficult thing for researchers. They soon began to realize that they were encountering children with some, but not all the classical signs of FAS. Because a diagnosis of FAS demands the presence of all three hallmarks, (growth deficiency, central nervous system dysfunction, and

As stated before FAS is the leading cause of mental retardation. There may be mild to severe growth retardation including decreased birthweight and head circumference in addition to continued growth retardation for height, weight and head circumference. Children with FAS fail to ever catch up in growth during the preschool years and have a tendency to remain thin even though there is adequate nutrition. These children often have anomalies and deformed facial features such as short palpebral fissures, flat midface, thin upper lip, indistinct philtrum, epicanthal folds, low nasal bridge, minor ear anomalies, micrognathia, strabismus, ptosis of the upper eyelid, narrow receding forehead, and a short upturned nose (Hess and Kenner 2). In broader terms the face of a FAS child includes a small head; a small maxilla which is the upper jaw; short, upturned nose; smooth philtrum which is a groove in the upper lip; smooth and thin upper lip; and small slightly narrow eyes with noticeable epicanthal folds (http://www.adam.com/ency/article/0009111.sym.htm). In the American Journal of Public Health and article called Tobacco and alcohol use during pregnancy and risk of oral clefts, described a study conducted to examine the relationship between alcohol consumption during the first trimester of pregnancy and oral clefts (Lorente, Cordier, Goujard and Ayme 1). First of all during the 6th through

Fetal alcohol syndrome- It is frightening to know that doctors used to tell their patients that it was ok to drink a glass of wine when pregnant this is a big NO, even a sip can cause FAS. What is FAS? This is when a mother who is pregnant drinks alcohol and it reaches the fetus cause adverse birth defects. When ethanol (alcohol) is drank, it is met by enzymes who break down the substance, women have less of ADH then men making alcohol very dangerous for women just in general. Therefore when a women drinks even the littles drop it is hurting the baby in more ways than one and that one drop can cause FAS. When a drug like alcohol breaks thru the placenta barrier into the fetus there called teratogens (this is what causes the birth defect).

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is the medical moniker for deformities and deficiencies that can arise in babies as the result of the mother's consumption of alcohol while pregnant. Any amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy can contribute to the development of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and mothers are accordingly warned not to drink during pregnancy. The disorder can result in a number of medical issues including problems with sensory perception and cognitive ability that is permanently impaired.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) happens when a woman drinks alcohol throughout pregnancy. When drank, the alcohol enters the mother’s blood stream and passes to the baby through the umbilical cord, so when a woman drinks alcohol, ultimately, so does the developing fetus. There is not a “right” or safe amount of alcohol that can be consumed during a pregnancy or while trying to get pregnant. Alcohol can cause many problems for a developing baby throughout pregnancy, and even before the woman knows that they are pregnant. There are many preventative measures that can be taken to avoid having a child with FAS, the biggest one being for the mother to not drink alcohol throughout the pregnancy and even when trying to get pregnant. Even if the woman

A pregnant woman’s lifestyle ultimately affects the development of her baby. Drinking alcohol when you are pregnant has been shown to cause harm towards the unborn baby as it develops in the mother’s womb. Mothers who drink alcohol while pregnant have a higher risk of their baby having long-term

The amount of alcohol that is safe for a mother to drink during her pregnancy hasn’t yet been determined, therefore the twenty-first century authorities say no alcohol should be consumed (Rank, J.). Alcohol is easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract to the blood stream and circulates to the fetus by crossing the placenta. The placental blood flow to the fetus is weakened from ethanol by constricting blood vessels. This includes hypoxia and fetal malnutrition. The fetus metabolizes the alcohol slower than an adult, causing your developing baby’s blood alcohol concentrations to be higher than those in your body. This causes problems with the ability to the fetus to receive oxygen and nourishment for normal cell development in the brain and other organs. The damage that is done to the baby depends on the gestational period, dosage, and chronicity of abuse. (Mayo Clinic Staff 3, Rank J., Fetal Alcohol Syndrome). The women that do drink when pregnant can cause problems by the amount of alcohol that they consume. For a woman to drink a large amount of alcohol at one time is more dangerous than if she were to drink little amounts several times (Rank, J.).

Perhaps the most noticeable difference between children with FAS and those who don’t is their size. Children with FAS are substantially smaller than ordinary children. Their limbs and internal organs grow at a snail’s pace in comparison to the norm. The child’s head is no exception. The head grows very slowly this implies slow brain growth, and with slow brain growth mental retardation is a very real problem. Interestingly enough, their small size isn’t a lack in growth hormone

To begin with, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome are caused by a woman consuming alcohol while pregnant. This happens by, alcohol in the mother's blood passing to the baby through the umbilical cord. When mothers drink during any stage of their pregnancy it can cause the baby to be born with birth defects and to have multiple disabilities. Nevertheless ,there is no safe amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Alcohol can cause many problems to the developing baby and risk a miscarriage.

Most infants identified with FAS are microcephalic, hyperactive, and mentally retarded by age four to ten. This persistence of brain dysfunction is what causes the highest human and economic toll (2).

Sood, B. Delaney-Black, V. (2001). Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Childhood Behavior at Age 6 to 7 Years: I. Dose- Response Effect.

On average, one in thirteen pregnant women have admitted to consuming one or more alcoholic beverage in their previous thirty days of pregnancy (“Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders”). Though one drink may seem miniscule in the scope of an eight to nine month pregnancy, any amount of alcohol exposure can be detrimental to a developing child, leading to life-changing disorders such as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Fetal alcohol syndrome, a severe potential consequence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, starts when a pregnant woman drinks an alcoholic beverage according to Mayo Clinic (“Fetal Alcohol Syndrome”). Alcohol enters the bloodstream and then can travel throughout the body. Alcohol

Alcohol has always been around in our lifetimes. If you enjoy it now then what if you had it at an earlier age? What if your parents allowed you to drink it? What if your children could drink it without any problems. Alcohol by itself is not dangerous at all if consumption is regulated and drinking responsibly. Each day, it seems more and more incidents involving the influence of alcohol or being drunk are occurring more often. That creates a very negative image of alcohol, and minors could be educated about those problems through experience at a young age. An age where they will be less likely to drive drunk or commit a federal offense.