Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Research Paper

As stated earlier, alcohol has its greatest effect on the developing embryo during the first trimester of pregnancy with its teratogenic effect causing mental retardation as well as characteristic craniofacial abnormalities that are characteristic of the disease. It has also been demonstrated with experimental animal models that there is a clear "dose-response" effect between the amount of alcohol consumed by the mother and the risk that is associated with developing FAS symptoms (Walpole, p. 875). It has been proposed by Walpole and associates that there are various degrees to which the fetus An be effected. Walpole uses the term "fetal alcohol syndrome" to refer to serious effects due to heavy maternal drinking and "fetal alcohol effect" to refer to those effects thought to occur with lower maternal alcohol intake (Walpole, p. 875). Regardless of the degree to which

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome... is the name given to a group of physical and mental birth defects that are the direct result of a woman's drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

“Its the importance of intervening early, ideally in the first year or two of life or even before the child is born” (Kristof 51). Before a child is even born, there is steps every mother can take to ensure a good life for their child. A doctor cant always guarentee that a baby will be healthy, but a mother taking precautions in their own life and health can always give a better chance for a child to live a healthy life. “Within four weeks of conception, a human embryo has formed a neural tube, which then begins to produce brain cells. As the brain is forming, it is shaped by the uterine environment in ways that will affect the child for the rest of his or her life. A mother who drinks alcohol may leave her child with fetal alcohol syndrome,

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

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) are identified as a category of birth disorders caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. These can include physical or intellectual anomalies, such as cardiac, skeletal, visual, aural, and fine or gross motor problems. (Callanan, 2013) Prevention would involve alcohol use prevention programs for women who are pregnant, and treatment for FAS and FASD would be aimed at helping those affected realize their full potential through both family and individual interventions. While there is no cure for FAS or FASD, appropriate treatments can aide individuals with these diagnoses to minimize the effects.

Fetal alcohol syndrome is a condition which occurs in infants whose mothers abuse alcohol during pregnancy. This problem has gathered the increasing attention of the medical establishment in recent years. Although it is difficult to properly diagnose in the newborn infant, studies have shown that fetal alcohol syndrome results in a number of mental and physical symptoms, such as below normal birth weight, length, and I.Q. Children born with the syndrome are also found to have a number of learning disabilities. Some of these disabilities are related to nursing, and thus they can seriously affect the life and health of the newborn, and may cause nutritional problems which will in turn affect

One of the leading causes of mental retardation in the United States is fetal alcohol syndrome or FAS. Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance by pregnant women because it's legal and socially acceptable. A greater majority of young women are not aware of the complications that are involved with pregnancy. They see pregnancy as a way of bringing a life into the world but do not use the necessary safety measure in their dietary habits to prevent such damage or inhibitions of such a life. By continuing on their drinking binge throughout their pregnancy, they can cause an inexplicable damage to herself and the fetus she is carrying. In my opinion, any amount of alcohol combined with pregnancy can cause

Fetal alcohol syndrome is a collection of multiple effects that happen because of exposure to alcohol in utero and can be a very serious problem that is prevalent. Fetal alcohol syndrome was first talked about and described in 1973 (Caley, Dunlap, Shipkey, Rivera, & Winkelman, 2006). Over the years a lot has become known about the dangers of exposing a fetus to alcohol and how common it really is (Caley et al, 2006). According to Krulewitch (2005), 1 in 10 women will consume alcohol after knowing they have become pregnant. Nurses have a key role in providing care and explaining to the newly pregnant mother the effects of consuming alcohol during pregnancy.

In the article “Fetal Alcohol Syndrome- A Birth Defect Recognized Worldwide,” by Kerstin Stromland used strong clinical evidence supported by various studies to bring attention to the fact that alcohol consumed during pregnancy severely damages the neurological and physiological development of the child.

Children are born every second of every day on all different parts of the globe. However, before they are introduced into the world they must develop in a special incubator known as the mother’s womb. Throughout the nine months of growth, it is crucial for the mother to consume certain nutrients and avoid harmful substances. In many countries, one of the cognitive disorders is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). According to Feldman (2009), Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a disorder that is induced by pregnant women who have consumed alcohol during the duration of their pregnancy, possibly resulting in mental deformity and delayed the growth of the child. Some characteristics of FAS include growth deficiency and central nervous system dysfunction

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.

Fetal alcohol syndrome is caused by the consumption of alcoholic beverages during the 9 months of pregnancy. It used to be believed that a small amount of alcohol during pregnancy was safe, and maybe even healthy, but now researchers are starting to find that no amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy. Even though researchers now know that even small amounts of alcohol could harm fetuses, doctors are still telling women that it’s ok to drink during pregnancy. It’s estimated that each year in the U.S., 1 in every 750 infants is born with fetal alcohol syndrome.

A person with fetal alcohol syndrome can be diagnosed at birth based on symptoms and abnormalities. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder along side with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and other related alcohol related developmental problem are “the most common form of developmental disability and birth defects in the western world” (Clarke and Gibbard, 2003). Even with the recognition that alcohol is a contributing factor to birth defects there have been problems with accurate diagnoses.

During 1720-1750, there was a limited amount of control on the production and selling of gin in England due to Parliament. This resulted in an increase in alcohol intake. During this period, fetal and infant death rates were at it highest [1]. The medical society did not believe consumption of alcohol was the cause of the high rise in birth defects at the time. With the repeal of the prohibition on alcohol in 1933, doctors believed it had beneficial effects to the point of intravenous treatments with alcohol were used to delay preterm labor.

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).