You’ve probably heard of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. But Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is only one in a handful of disorders caused by alcohol exposure during pregnancy. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders is a term for a number of conditions caused by the effects of a fetus’s exposure to alcohol while in utero. The National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome says that alcohol use during pregnancy is the major cause of developmental disabilities and birth defects in the United States.
The disorders that make up the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are:
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
- Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
- Neurobehavioral Disorder Associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
- Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Effects
The effects of being prenatally exposed to alcohol can exhibit themselves as physical, mental, behavioral, and also as learning disabilities. No matter what kind of effects the child endures, Fetal Alcohol Disorders are permanent and irreversible, though some of the symptoms can be treated with medication and therapy. The kind of effect and severity of the disorder depends on the time and frequency the pregnant mother consumed alcohol during her pregnancy.
Some of the effects of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are:
- Abnormal Facial Characteristics
- Growth deficits
- Brain damage including mental retardation
- Defects of the lung
- Defects of the kidney
- Defects of the heart
- Memory problems
- Attention disorders
- Difficulty managing judgement
- Impaired reasoning
- Learning disabilities
- Motor skill delays
- Coordination problems
- Behavioral problems
- Hyperactivity
Tens of thousands of infants are born each year with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Anytime a woman drinks during her pregnancy she is putting her child at risk. Unfortunately even if a woman stops drinking after finding out she is pregnant, there is still a chance that the short time she was pregnant and consuming alcohol may leave her child at a risk for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The most important thing to do is stop drinking immediately if you find out you’re pregnant. If you’re trying to get pregnant stop drinking. If you are trying to stop using alcohol and can’t ask for help. Call your doctor and our alcohol rehabilitation center in Florida today. You can reach us at (833) 596-3502.
