| When the pregnant woman drinks alcohol, it enters the | | | | and sometimes a hole in the roof of the mouth. |
| bloodstream and reduces the ability of the blood in the | | | | Skeletal underdevelopment results in deformities in the |
| placenta to provide adequate oxygen to the growing | | | | ribs and chest bone, dislocated hips, curvature of the |
| fetus. The infant is born suffering from the same | | | | spine, and a small head. Sometimes, these children are |
| problems as an alcoholic and is therefore subject to | | | | born with missing fingers or toes. |
| withdrawal symptoms from the moment he or she is | | | | Another problem is the effect this syndrome has on |
| born. The dangers of consuming alcohol whilst | | | | the organs. Children born with fetal alcohol syndrome |
| pregnant have only really become fully understood in | | | | are prone to heart defects, kidney problems, and can |
| recent years. When the pregnant woman drinks | | | | even suffer from genital malformation. |
| alcohol, it enters the bloodstream and reduces the | | | | Fetal alcohol syndrome is relatively rare and takes |
| ability of the blood in the placenta to provide adequate | | | | place only in the children of mothers who are alcoholic |
| oxygen to the growing fetus. The infant is born | | | | or at least drink regularly and heavily during pregnancy. |
| suffering from the same problems as an alcoholic and | | | | Approximately one third of children born to mothers |
| is therefore subject to withdrawal symptoms from the | | | | who are alcoholic or who drink heavily during |
| moment he or she is born. These symptoms include | | | | pregnancy are likely to suffer from fetal alcohol |
| irritability, sleeplessness, and poor appetite. | | | | syndrome. It is even possible for a child to be born with |
| Around twenty percent of infants born with fetal | | | | this syndrome when the mother has drunk only a small |
| alcohol syndrome will die shortly after birth. Those that | | | | amount of alcohol but has done so on a regular basis. |
| live will have a lifetime of intellectual disability to a | | | | Sometimes a child may not suffer from the entire |
| varying degree as well as physical disabilities. | | | | range of problems associated with fetal alcohol |
| The consequences of fetal alcohol syndrome include | | | | syndrome but the alcohol can still cause a child to be |
| deformities and impeded development, though there | | | | born with development problems which have taken |
| are doubtless other consequences to this condition as | | | | place whilst in the uterus. There is some debate about |
| well. It is actually a series of defects, the most serious | | | | how much alcohol is safe during pregnancy but it is |
| characteristic being a group of deformities of the head. | | | | believed that even small amounts, in the first trimester, |
| Children born with fetal alcohol syndrome are also likely | | | | can be harmful. |
| to suffer from delayed growth and development. | | | | Obviously, the best way to avoid this problem is to |
| The main problem with growth in an affected child is | | | | avoid all alcohol during pregnancy. It is still possible to |
| that of deficiency which results in the child being small | | | | enjoy social occasions without consuming alcohol and |
| and underweight. | | | | putting your unborn baby at risk. There are many |
| There are also facial abnormalities such as small eyes, | | | | non-alcoholic wines and so forth available these days |
| sagging eyelids, small jaw, defects in ear formation, | | | | and this is a much safer option. |