The Truth About What Alcohol Abuse Does to a Fetus

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The Truth About Fetal Alcohol Abuse

Would you have ever thought of physically, mentally, and/or emotionally harming an unborn child? In the 1990s people have noted the significant impact alcohol-related birth defects are having on our society then and now. My essay will discuss alcohol consumption among pregnant women and its adverse effects on fetal development. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or FAS is physical and mental health problem that destroys a child's learning development. Women risk their unborn children when they consume alcohol during pregnancy and puts their children at risk for multiple constellations of abnormalities when they are born. Which also hinders babies from reaching their full potential in life. Currently 16% of expecting mothers are unaware and drink alcohol before and/or during their pregnancy because they do not know the full extent of what the effects are to their unborn child. Children diagnosed with FAS will be damaged from alcohol, and develop physical and mental problems throughout their whole life. When mothers drink it is damaging to their unborn child's development stages. Furthermore FAS can have fatal effects on an unborn child. Unfortunately some of the most vulnerable stages in a pregnancy from alcohol damage can occur so early that a woman may not even know she is expecting a child. The effects of drinking alcohol while pregnant can lead to long term detrimental problems with infants.

Some people believe that a pregnant woman could drink alcohol if in moderation. some might say, “Alcohol calms the mother, and when the mother is calm so is the child inside her”. According to Amy Nevitt (page 19 in the book “Fetal Alcohol Syndrome”) ,“⅓ of babies are born with FAS in the ...

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...r main babies exposed to drugs, disadvantage mount after leaving hospital.” Bangor Daily News. (11 February 2014). page:4. Newspaper Source. EBSCO. 1 April 2014.

Stuhlder, Wendy L., R.D.“Fetal alcohol syndrome.” Health Issues. VOL 1.New York City:Multivolume reference. VHS library.

Gorman, Christine. “What alcohol does to a child.” Alcohol Abuse.” 6 July 2005. Page: 2. Newspaper Source. EBSCO. 1 april 2014.

Hager, Sheila. “Learning hard truths about fetal syndrome.” Home Place 25 October 2006. Page:3. Newspaper Source. EBSCO. 1 April 2014.

Jenkins, Rebecca. “Pregnant woman warned; if you drink , your baby drinks, too.” Advertiser, the (Adelaide). 23 February 2005. 2 pages. Newspaper source. EBSCO. 1 April 2014.

Nevitt, Amy.” Fetal alcohol syndrome; what is an adult with fas like?”1996. book source. pg 40. VHS library. 1 april 2014.

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