Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Many women that become pregnant are unaware of the consequences of drinking alcohol during pregnancy and the damaging effects it has on the fetus. When a woman who is pregnant drinks alcohol, the baby is also drinking alcohol. Furthermore, the amount of alcohol that is consumed by the mother is the same amount the baby receives through the mother's placenta. Many doctors advise that it is okay for the mother to have an occasional drink, however, some women cannot stop at one drink, and they continue to drink in excess throughout their pregnancy. Still, even moderate consumption of alcohol is not wise, because it is still unknown how much alcohol the fetus is able to tolerate without potential harm. Consequently, a fetus that has been exposed to alcohol while in the mother's womb has a high probability of being born with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Women that want to become pregnant or are pregnant need to be educated on the effects that alcohol can have on the fetus and the devastating result of having a child born with FAS.

Fetal alcohol syndrome was first discovered and treated in the late 1960's in France and a few years later in the United States. This syndrome results from the toxic effect of alcohol and its chemical factors on the developing fetus and brain (Christensen 1). According to many physicians and researchers, FAS is one of the leading causes of birth defects and developmental disabilities, along with Down syndrome and spina bifida in the U.S. Moreover, FAS is said to be the number one cause of nonhereditary mental retardation (Christensen 1). Out of each 10,000 children born in the U.S., between 3 and 30 suffer from FAS. The overwhelming effects of this condition can easily be prevented if the mothe...

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...s work, but exactly how it happens is still under investigation. The research continues on the nutritional, hormonal and cellular events regulating fetal development to help guide early interventions in children with FAS.

Education on FAS should come from the woman's doctor or a mandatory motherhood class, which could be provided at the physician's office, teaching the importance of taking care of the baby's health during pregnancy. If a woman chooses not to take her baby's welfare into consideration while she is pregnant, this should be considered gross negligence and should incur high penalties. The consequences of knowingly hurting the fetus could result in being imprisoned for a specific amount of time, rehabilitation if warranted, and or community service at a county facility that houses people who have mental and or physical problems that stem from FAS.