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Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
“The manifestation of specific growth, mental, and physical birth defects associated with the mother’s high levels of alcohol use during pregnancy” (Barr, 283, 2001). In brief, this definition is a description of what fetal alcohol syndrome entails. The theme of this paper will include the causes, symptoms, treatment, and complications that are all due to fetal alcohol syndrome.
Causes and Risk Factors
Alcohol use or abuse by the pregnant woman subjects her to the same type of risks that alcohol has in a woman who is not carrying an unborn child. However, there are unique risks to the fetus and is associated with fetal alcohol syndrome. Timing of alcohol use during pregnancy is also important. Alcohol use during the first trimester is more damaging than during the second trimester, which is, in turn, more damaging than use in the third trimester (Barr, 2001).
Alcohol ingested by a pregnant woman easily passes through the placental barrier to the fetus (Barr, 2001). Because of this, drinking alcohol can adversely affect the development of the baby.
The statistics for fetal alcohol syndrome varies from 1out of 1,500 to 1 out of 600 live births (Autti, 2000). ... A pregnant woman who drinks any amount of alcohol is at risk, since a “safe” level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy has not been established. However, more amounts of alcohol seem to cause increased problems during the pregnancy. Multiple birth defects associated with “classical” fetal alcohol syndrome more commonly are associated with heavy alcohol use. Fetal alcohol syndrome consists of the following abnormalities:
• Intrauterine growth retardation
• Delayed development with mild to severe mental functioning
• Facial abnormalities, including small head, small upper jaw, smooth and thin upper lip
• Heart defects
• Limb abnormalities of joints, hands, feet, fingers, and toes
Signs and Symptoms:
Fetal alcohol syndrome isnt a single birth defect.
Approximate Word count = 1304
Approximate Pages = 5.2
(250 words per page double spaced)
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