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