Fetal alcohol syndrome. Sounds serious. But what exactly is it? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention answer some common questions.
What is FAS?
FAS stands for fetal alcohol syndrome. FAS is one of the leading known causes of mental retardation and birth defects. If a woman drinks alcohol during her pregnancy, her baby can be born with FAS, a lifelong, physically and mentally disabling condition. FAS is characterized by:
- Abnormal facial features
- Growth deficiencies
- Central nervous system (CNS) problems
Individuals with FAS may have problems with learning, memory, attention span, problem solving, speech, and/or hearing. These problems often lead to difficulties in school and problems getting along with others. FAS is an irreversible condition that affects every aspect of an individual's life and the lives of his or her family. However, FAS is 100 percent preventable – if a woman does not drink alcohol while she is pregnant.
What is FASD?
Prenatal exposure to alcohol can cause a range of disorders, known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). FASDs is an umbrella term describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects include physical, mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications. All FASDs are 100 precent preventable – if a woman does not drink alcohol while she is pregnant.
How does alcohol cause these problems?
Alcohol in the mother's blood crosses the placenta freely and enters the embryo or fetus through the umbilical cord. The exact mechanisms by which alcohol damages the fetus and critical times of exposure are not known. However, exposure during the first trimester results in the structural defects (i.e., facial changes) characteristic of FAS, whereas the growth and CNS disturbances could occur from alcohol use during any time in pregnancy.
What are the effects of prenatal alcohol on the fetus?
The U.S. Public Health Service has indicated that there is no safe level of alcohol use during pregnancy. If a woman drinks while pregnant, she puts her developing fetus at risk for a wide spectrum of adverse effects including spontaneous abortion; growth retardation; physical, mental, and behavioral abnormalities; facial abnormalities; and CNS impairment, such as developmental delay, speech or language delay, lower IQ, and decreased head circumference. In the worst cases, prenatal exposure to alcohol may result in fetal death.
Does drinking during pregnancy always result in FAS?
Not all women who drink heavily during pregnancy will have a child with FAS. Why some women are more susceptible than others is not entirely clear. However, by not drinking during pregnancy, women can ensure that their babies will not have FAS or any other alcohol-related outcomes.
What is a "drink"? What if I only drink beer or wine coolers?
All drinks containing alcohol can hurt an unborn baby. A standard 12-ounce can of beer has the same amount of alcohol as a four ounce glass or wine or a one ounce shot of straight liquor. In addition, some alcoholic drinks, such as malt beverages, wine coolers, and mixed drinks often contain more alcohol than a 12-ounce can of beer.
How much alcohol is reasonably acceptable to drink without running the risk of my child developing FAS?
There is no safe amount of alcohol that woman can drink while pregnant. Any time a pregnant woman engages in regular drinking, she increases her chance of having a spontaneous abortion and puts her unborn child at risk for growth deficiencies, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems.
Can FAS be treated?
FAS is an irreversible, lifelong condition. However, with early identification and diagnosis, a child with FAS can receive services that can help maximize his or her potential.
What are the effects of alcohol on a fetus during the very first weeks – before a woman would know that she was pregnant?
Chronic drinking and binge drinking are recognized as the most dangerous patterns of drinking. The pattern of drinking will partly determine the effects of alcohol on a fetus during the first weeks of pregnancy. Many body parts and organs are developing in the embryonic stage, which is weeks three to eight. It is known that during the first four weeks of pregnancy, when most women are not aware that they are pregnant, the heart, CNS, eyes, arms, and legs of the fetus are developing. Also, different developing organ systems may be more vulnerable to damage at different stages of development.
How common is FAS?
The reported prevalence rates of FAS vary widely depending on the population studied. In the general population, estimates vary from 0.7 cases per 1,000 to 1.0 cases per 1,000 live births with higher rates (e.g., three per 1,000 live births) among American Indian and Alaska natives. Other neurodevelopmental effects of alcohol are believed to occur more frequently. |
