Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (September 9th World Day)

Do not let your baby suffers the Fetal Alcohol syndrome

NanyCrafts joins the commemoration of the fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) world day, which is celebrated on September 9th of each year to remind the community about the negative effect on babies who have been exposed to alcohol prenatally.  Fetal Alcohol syndrome affects more than 10% of U.S children whose mothers have consumed alcohol on their pregnancy.

but, what exactly is Fetal Alcohol syndrome?

in 1973, Jones and Smith (1) coined the term "fetal alcohol syndrome" (FAS) to describe a pattern of abnormalities observed in children born to alcoholic mothers. It was originally postulated that malnutrition might be responsible for these defects. However, the pattern of malformation associated with FAS is not seen in children born to malnourished women, and alcohol has been found to be acutely toxic to the fetus independently of the effects of malnutrition.

Criteria for defining Fetal Alcohol Syndrome were standardized by the Fetal Alcohol Study Group of the Research Society on Alcoholism in 1980 (2), and modifications were proposed in 1989 by Sokol and Clarren.

The proposed criteria are:

1. Prenatal and/or postnatal growth retardation (weight and/or length below the 10th percentile).


2. Central nervous system involvement, including neurological abnormalities, developmental delays, behavioral dysfunction, intellectual impairment, and skull or brain malformations.


3. A characteristic face with short palpebral fissures (eye openings), a thin upper lip, and an elongated, flattened midface and philtrum (the groove in the middle of the upper lip).

Abstaining is the Key to your baby does not develop the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

A possible way to overcome denial might be to inquire about past, rather than present, drinking. Dr Robles, N in his Recall of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Journal of studies on alcohol in 1990 says:  This is suggested by the results of a study showing that self-reports of first trimester drinking made at the seventh month of pregnancy are often higher than those made at the fourth month. The researchers suggested that women may feel safer reporting higher levels of drinking farther away from the event.

The absolute best personalized baby gift you can give your child is healthy lifestyle from pregnancy to adolescence. If you really want to take action of your child health start now!

Resources:

(1) JONES, K.L., & Smith, D.W. Recognition of the fetal alcohol syndrome in early infancy. Lancet 2:999-1001, 1973. (2) ROSETT, H.L. A clinical perspective of the fetal alcohol syndrome. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 4(2):119-122, 1980.