Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Research Paper

The science behind FAS is quite simple; as it is known that alcohol has a damaging effect on the body, it has similar consequences on the fetus. Since the fetus is constantly developing, the alcohol causes more serious defects to the unborn child. Alcohol exposure to a fetus is known as a teratogen. “Teratogens are substances or conditions that disrupt typical development in offspring as a result of gestational exposure and cause birth defects.” (Wilson & Fraser, 1977). Although the exposure to alcohol causes problems in the fetus, studies have shown that it may not accurately be the alcohol in the mother’s system that causes these defects, rather the byproducts that form when the body metabolizes the alcohol. This can lead to a decrease in brain cells, abnormal location of neurons, and gross malformation to the brain. Since alcohol causes this central nervous system damage, it is classified as a neurobehavioral teratogen, which is a group of teratogens that cause brain damage and modify behaviors. (Riley & Vorhees, 1986). The CNS damage is the primary defect due to alcohol and it is quite common to have these damages without any physical abnormalities. The more alcohol that is consumed the more birth defects that will arise in the

Alcohol is not the solution; it’s proven that those who consume alcohol have a greater risk to have a baby with fetal alcohol syndrome. Signs and symptoms are different on most babies but may include different physical defects as intellectual or cognitive disabilities and problems coping and functioning with daily life. Distinctive facial features, deformity of joins, vision and hearing problems, poor coordination and valance, poor memory, poor social skills and difficulty planning or working towards a goal are just some of those problems.

According to Seaver, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is birth defects causing learning, and behavioral problems in individuals whose mothers drank alcohol during pregnancy. This disorder is very serious, yet it is recognized as one of the most preventable. This causes major issues, when something so serious could be prevented but is not. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a problem because it leaves a permanent effect on the unborn child, but some solutions could be educating women and putting up more informational posters and warning labels on products.

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

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 (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

Most women are not aware of the many complications that can occur during pregnancy. Many pregnant women continue drinking right throughout their pregnancy, ignoring the fact that they could damage, and pose problems to themselves and well as there fetus. According to many physicians FAS is a leading cause of mental retardation and birth defects. In the United States, one in 500 children reported are diagnosed with FAS. On the Indian reservations the numbers

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is one of the most common alcoholic disorders, but is the only one that is one hundred percent preventable. Unfortunately, the effects of FAS are unchangeable and last a lifetime. The effect of FAS in children include special needs, deformities of the skeletal system and major organ systems, especially the brain and the heart, constrained growth, Central Nervous System problems, poor motor skills, and difficulty with learning, memory, social interaction, attention span, problem solving, and speech and/or hearing. There are also facial features that are characteristics of FAS. Some of these include small eyes, short or upturned nose, flat cheeks, and thin lips. Although these facial features do fade as the child grows, there are numerous other difficulties to

Alcohol-related birth defects that may be present to those born with FAS can easily be identified because of the cluster of characteristic features involving facial appearance, growth and brain damage. Children born to mothers that drink heavily in pregnancy may also have serious congenital birth defects such as :

The worst outcome of fetal alcohol exposure is FAS which is a lifelong condition that damage to the central nervous system, poor growth pertaining to development in the womb, growth after birth, or a combination of both and causes abnormal facial features.

Even a small amount of alcohol has the potential to hurt the child. The unborn child of a person who occasionally drinks is at risk of receiving fetal alcohol effects. This condition causes children to receive some of the same of the same effects that come from fetal alcohol syndrome. A child may not receive any of these conditions due to a mother’s alcohol consumption, but there are still some potential effects. Evidence shows that when a pregnant mother consumes an average of two alcoholic beverages per day, her child may have a lower amount of intelligence and is also at risk for having mental retardation. Also, there is research that suggests that even low quantities of alcohol consumed during pregnancy can have contrary effects on the child’s behavioral and psychological functions, and can cause a child to exhibit behaviors such as hyperactivity, unusual nervousness or anxiety, and poor impulse control. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can also cause children to have less accuracy in their spatial and visual reasoning later in their lives. Due to these results, Sarah should be advised to not drink alcohol while she is

The common fever is one thing that has also been associated with teratogenesis. According to dictionary.com a fever is “an abnormal condition of the body, characterized by undue rise in temperature, quickening of the pulse, and disturbance of various body functions.” Fevers are a normal part of life, and they cannot be prevented. The uncontrolled elevation of body temperature or fever has a potential negative effect on the developing fetus. The raising temperature on the body is an inflammatory or infectious process that has been known to cause stillbirths and miscarriages (Andersen, Vastrup, Wohlfahrt, Olsen, et al 2002). “The process where an embryo develops into a fetus is considered the most vulnerable period” (Andersen et al

Why it is important in our society to know what teratogen is, and some ways to prevent this birth defect in our society. Teratogen is a agent that disturbs the development of an embryo. Well, what exactly causes these disturbances in the embryo? By taking medicine during pregnancy, medicine prescribe to new mothers can cause abnormality in pregnancy. Although many women take medications during pregnancy, the medicine prescribe can be harmful. A example may be a woman during pregnancy comes across morning sickness; therefore, she may ask her doctor to prescribe medicine to treat her morning sickness. A common medicine to take during the 60's was thalidomide. However, over the years researchers found that thalidomide caused partial absence

Women can make many mistakes during their pregnancy. Some mistakes will affect the baby for his/her entire life. Eating the wrong type of foods, smoking tobacco, and going to tanning beds can harm the baby, but not nearly as badly as consuming alcohol while pregnant. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome(FAS) is one of the disorders a baby can get due to its mother’s alcohol consumption. This disorder creates many issues including physical birth defects and mental retardation. Also later on in life when the baby is a teenager or adult he/she can have many issues suppressing this disorder to function in everyday life.

FAS constantly encompasses brain damage, impaired growth and head and facial dysmorphic. According to the Center Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studies 0.2 to 1.5 infants have been identified with FAS for every 1,000 live births in certain areas of the United States. Alcohol can travel from the mother’s blood stream through the placenta to the fetus. Since alcohol flew more slowly in a fetus than in an adult, alcohol levels have tendency to stay high and remain in the fetus body longer. Birth deficiencies related to prenatal exposure to alcohol can happen in the first trimester of pregnancy, often before a woman realizes that she is pregnant. Birth defects from FAS occurred due to the ethanol content of alcohol. Prenatal exposure to