Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Although throughout the United States activist and educational campaigns have flooded U.S citizens with education on the detrimental effects of maternal alcohol consumption, women are still continuing to consume alcohol while pregnant. Fifty three percent of non-pregnant woman drink alcohol, and despite health warnings, twelve percent of pregnant mothers in the United States still consume alcohol (Pruett &Waterman & Caughey, 2013, p. 62). Fetal alcohol exposure is also believed to be widely underreported in the United States (Pruett et al., 2013, p. 66). Current research concludes that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption, nor a safe time during gestation for alcohol consumption to take place (National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome [NOFAS], 2014). Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is an umbrella term used for the various conditions that maternal alcohol consumption causes. Although each case of FASD can present differently, cognitive disabilities, facial deformities, and growth retention are a few of the hallmark adverse effects that alcohol has when it enters fetal circulation (Paley & O’Connor, 2011, p. 64). The United States is impacted economically by these debilitating conditions as well, as it costs our nation $746 million dollars annually to care for these children (Bhuvaneswar, Chang, Epstein & Stern, 2007, p. 3). Nurses in America, and across the globe have a key role in helping to eliminate, and minimize adverse effects of these conditions

FAS is defined as a medical diagnosis involving four key features: alcohol exposure, growth deficiently, certain facial features, and brain damage. Infants who have been exposed to prenatal alcohol rarely show all symptoms of the medical condition FAS. Other terms have been used to describe the implication involved with FAS. Frequently used terms are: Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Alcohol-related Neurodevelopmental Disorder and Alcohol-related Birth Defects. A child with Partial Fetal Alcohol syndrome exhibits only some of the physical signs of FAS and will likely have both learning and behavioral difficulties. A child suffering from Alcohol-related Neurodevelopmental Disorder will demonstrate signs of neural damage, problems with memory, poor social skills, and learning difficulties. Children diagnosed with

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

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) refers to a group of physical and mental birth defects resulting from a women’s drinking alcohol heavily or at crucial stages during pregnancy. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome was first named and treated in the late 1960's. This condition results from the toxic effect of alcohol and its chemical factors on the developing fetus. FAS is the leading cause of mental retardation occurring in 1 out of every 750 births. The frequency of FAS occurs about 1.9 times out of every 1000 births according to the latest figures, and minor effects can be seen in up to 20% of pregnancies per year. This number changes drastically for women who are clearly alcoholics. As high as 29 children out of every 1000 births will suffer from FAS

Alcohol is known as one the most dangerous teratogens. Every time a pregnant woman drinks, she allows alcohol to enter her blood stream and make its way into the placenta. Unlike the mother, the fetus is unable to break down alcohol that makes the blood alcohol level of the fetus the same or higher than the mother (Burk, 2013). Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), and prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) are considered some of the most serious consequences of maternal drinking during pregnancy. Children can exhibit physical abnormalities such as a flat mid-face, a thin upper lip, a smooth groove between the nose and upper lip, along with growth retardation, and cognitive difficulties. The affected children also have cognitive difficulties which include intelligence, language, memory, and learning (Wacha & Obrzut, 2007).

The aboriginal population in Canada is growing, and it is known that 56% of Aboriginals live on an rural reserve or community (Government of Canada, 2014; NCCAH, 2011). It is important to note that those Aboriginals living on reserves and in communities have a significantly higher rate of health issues than those living in cities (NCCAH, 2011). This stems from the limited access to healthcare that Aboriginal rural areas receive (NCCAH, 2011). The lack of healthcare causes higher numbers in diseases, conditions, and disorders among the Aboriginal people of Canada (NCCAH, 2011).

A woman finds out that she is pregnant at twelve weeks; she has been routinely partying and behaving promiscuously. For most women finding out this life changing news would affect their behavior, however; she continues to drink throughout her pregnancy. At thirty four weeks pregnant the woman delivers a four pound baby boy, he is rushed to the NICU with breathing problems and struggles to survive. Fortunately, the baby survives; but he continues to struggle throughout his life, learning slowly and displaying symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome all because his mother was unwilling or unable to stop drinking during her pregnancy. Drinking during pregnancy can cause a miscarriage which is a spontaneous loss of a pregnancy. Alcohol use during pregnancy can result in an infant having a low birth weight. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or FAS is a syndrome that affects a child throughout their life. Expectant mothers should refrain from any alcohol consumption during pregnancy because alcohol use can cause miscarriage, low birth weight or in extreme cases result in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Alcohol is a major part of today’s society. Individuals are constantly being exposed to alcohol on a daily basis by simple commercials on the television or while driving on the highway seeing advertisements of billboards. Alcohol is a dependent substance for many people in society because not only is it a way to release one’s stress, but it is also associated to have a good time with. Attending a holiday party at a family member’s house or a party to celebrate a birthday, alcohol is always involved. Individuals who abuse alcohol who are pregnant women are risking their unborn child with many abnormalities and lifelong implications. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011), “Approximately one in every eight women

Since the discovery of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in 1973, government agencies have begun to give recommendations in a more precautious manner. I think that the intention behind it is to allow expecting or future mothers who consume large amounts of alcohol to feel confortable during their pregnancy. That they do not have to feel that they are being monitored or that they are being restricted from a right they are entitled to.

Consuming alcohol during pregnancy results in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). The spectrum of FAS ranges from barely detectable to severe functional and cognitive birth defects. In the United States approximately 9.1 out of 1,000 live births exhibit some degree of FAS spectrum. Although excessive consumption of alcohol is considered a human teratogen the biochemical mechanism and the developmental

The subject of trying to save children from the debilitating effects of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders is a tricky one to say the least. According to the textbook, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) refer to certain defects in children exposed to alcohol during prenatal development. In an article entitled “The long-term neurocognitive consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure: A 14-year study” Streissguth et. al. discuss the notable effects of alcohol exposure on children directly after birth, a few years after, and several years after. Children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and FASD had poor motor skills, noticeable dysmorphic facial features, learning disabilities, and slow/impaired development of social skills (Streissguth, 1999).

Alcohol consumption among pregnant women is a growing problem not only in the U.S. but also to the rest of the world. Billions are spent treating birth defects and other symptoms related to prenatal alcohol drinking. Statistics done shows that treatment of the disorder costs the U.S. 6 billion dollars annually (Burd & Hardwood, 2004); adjust that to the current inflation rate and it could be as high as 8 million dollars. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Community Resource Center came up with $5.4 million dollars as the estimated expected lifetime costs for one child with FAS disorder in 2003. This includes direct cost

Fetal alcohol syndrome is a condition marked by hyperactivity, impulsiveness, difficult maintaining attention, varying degrees of mental retardation, motor problems, heart defects, and facial abnormalities (Kalat p.124). The alcohol passes through the placenta and goes right to the developing baby. Whether it is wine, beer, mixed drinks, or hard liquor the fetus will be exposed to it. Borus and Tomlinso stated that “according to the U.S. centers for disease control and prevention almost all children with fetal alcohol syndrome will have mental health probems as adults and 82 percent will not live independently” (2014). Kalat found that drinking during pregnancy leads to thinning of the cerebral cortex that persists to adulthood (Zhou et al., 2011). Fetal alcohol syndrome affects 1 in every 100 births a year, approximately 50,000 infants a year. Drinking while pregnant can hinder the baby’s possibility of having a normal life. Fetal alcohol syndrome is a disease that is incurable but also

FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) is an umbrella term that describes a variety of possible effects that can be experienced by individuals who were prenatally exposed to alcohol. FASD encompasses several medical diagnoses including FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome), pFAS(Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) and ARND (Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder) (“What Educators”. 3).

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is caused by fetal exposure to alcohol during pregnancy and is characterized by specific patters of fetal deformities. Researchers are unsure at what stage in the pregnancy these malformations occur or the amount of alcohol consumed to cause these deformities. FAS is the leading cause of mental retardation that is preventable. There are usually three factors pertaining to a diagnosis of FAS: “the presence of prenatal/postnatal growth retardation, craniofacial anomalies, and central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities.” (Pinto & Pravikoff, 2008)Other disorders including fetal alcohol effects (FAE) and alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND), and alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD) may be present