Read me first

Click on baby for youtube link to “ Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Documentary.

• Pregnant and breastfeeding women

• People at risk for certain cancers

• People with family histories of alcohol abuse

• Children and adolescents

• People taking medications that can interact with alcohol

• Those with health conditions such as liver problems or ulcers

• Anyone requiring skill or coordination to perform a task

• People who have a history of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)

Who shouldn’t drink?

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Don’t let it happen to your

baby.

What is it?

A COMBINATION OF IRREVERSIBLE BIRTH DEFECTS RESULTING

FROM ALCOHOL USE BY THE MOTHER AND

FATHER.

Criteria for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

• Growth retardation in weight, height and/or head circumference

• Altered form and facial defects

• mental retardation

Major Effects of Alcohol by Trimester of Pregnancy

Conception----------------------Birth

Mos

t dev

elopm

enta

l

destr

uctio

ns occ

urs

here In

crea

sed R

isk of

Sponta

neous A

bortio

n

Decre

ased

Feta

l

Growth

1st 2nd 3rd

How old do you think this boy is?

15

FAS children are much smaller in size.

FASFASNORMALNORMAL

OTHER PHYSICAL FINDINGS SEEN IN FAS

WEBBED FINGERS

GENITAL MALFORMATION

HEARING AND VISION LOSS

SLURRED MONOTONOUS SPEECH

More physical abnormalities

• Small head, eyes. Jaw and brain

• cleft palate

• hip and joint deformities

Problems associated with FAS and the Central Nervous System

Irritability in infancy

Altered muscle tone

Poor fine and gross motor skills

Hyperactivity and mental retardation

About one in five babies born with FAS die.

Almost half of the FAS babies have heart defects which may require surgery.

Six-year old boy; Seattle

FAS is the leading causes of mental retardation in the US.

Average I.Q.: 67

Read at 4th grade level

Primary Symptoms

• Behavior disorders

• Acting out

• Temper tantrums

• Socially unacceptable behaviors

• Trouble with problem solving

Fraternal Twins with FAS may not be affected in the same way.

What are other leading causes of mental retardation?

1. Downs Syndrome

2. Spina Bifida

How much Alcohol will cause FAS?

We don’t know. Any amount is considered too much.

Health advisories Health advisories urge women who urge women who are are planning planning pregnancy pregnancy or are or are pregnantpregnant not to drink alcohol.not to drink alcohol.

Alcohol-relatedbirth defects

last a lifetime.

FAS is 100% preventable• By avoiding alcohol

consumption while pregnant or when considering pregnancy you can help to insure the development of a healthy baby.

• Fathers who drink may fertilize an egg with a defective sperm resulting in a baby with similar birth defects.

If you were the owner of a restaurant, would you refuse a pregnant patron alcohol?

Would it matter if she were obviously drunk?