| Fetal alcohol syndrome is the manifestation | | | | alcohol syndrome are more commonly associated |
| of specific growth, mental, and physical | | | | with heavy alcohol use or alcoholism. |
| birth defects associated with the mother's | | | | |
| high levels of alcohol use during pregnancy. | | | | Several conditions or characteristics may |
| Fetal alcohol exposure is the leading known | | | | modify risk for FAS among women who consume |
| cause of mental retardation in the Western | | | | sufficient quantities of alcohol in |
| world. If you drink during pregnancy, you | | | | pregnancy. Traditional behavioral |
| place your baby at risk of fetal alcohol | | | | interventions are predicated on learning |
| syndrome. The defects that are part of fetal | | | | theory, which is the basis for many parenting |
| alcohol syndrome are irreversible and can | | | | and professional strategies and |
| include serious physical, mental and | | | | interventions. Abstinence from alcohol during |
| behavioral problems, though they vary from | | | | pregnancy absolutely prevents fetal alcohol |
| one child to another. As many as 40,000 | | | | syndrome. Active women who drink heavily or |
| babies are born with some type of | | | | are alcoholics should use highly effective |
| alcohol-related damage each year in the | | | | contraceptive measures. Stop drinking alcohol |
| United States. Fetal alcohol syndrome affects | | | | altogether if you're planning to become |
| an estimated one to two out of every 1,000 | | | | pregnant. Fetal alcohol syndrome is |
| births in the United States. | | | | completely preventable in children whose |
| | | | mothers don't drink during pregnancy. |
| Consumption of alcohol by a pregnant woman | | | | |
| may be the first indicator of potential fetal | | | | Fetal Alcohol Syndrome - Prevention and |
| alcohol syndrome. FAS is a group of problems | | | | Treatment Tips |
| that can include birth defects ,abnormal | | | | |
| facial features ,growth problems ,problems | | | | 1. Avoid Alcohol during pregnancy. |
| with the central nervous system ,trouble | | | | |
| remembering and/or learning vision or hearing | | | | 2. Use highly effective contraceptive |
| problems and Behavior problems. The severity | | | | measures. |
| of signs and symptoms varies, with some | | | | |
| children experiencing them to a far greater | | | | 3. Traditional behavioral interventions are |
| degree than others. Women who are active and | | | | predicated on learning theory. |
| do not use effective birth control should | | | | |
| also refrain from drinking. Multiple birth | | | | 4. Pregnancy can be an opportunity to address |
| defects associated with "classical" fetal | | | | alcohol abuse openly. |