Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Susan M. Jackson

Intro to Disabilities

January 30, 2011

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome refers to development, cerebral, and physical defects that may emerge in a newborn if a mother consumes alcohol during pregnancy. When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, it passes across the placenta to the fetus. Because of this, alcohol can harm a baby's development.

There is no "safe" level of alcohol use during pregnancy, and larger amounts appear to increase the chance for fetal alcohol syndrome to occur. Drinking alcohol anytime during pregnancy can be harmful; however use seems to be the most harmful during the first trimester.

A baby with fetal alcohol syndrome could possibly have many symptoms; these symptoms can include poor growth while the baby is not only in utero, but after birth as well. The baby may also experience decreased muscle tone and poor coordination, delayed development and significant functional problems in thinking, speech, movement and social skills.

Other symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome can also include heart defects and structural problems with the face and skeleton. The physically shared characteristics of fetal alcohol syndrome which can be present in most cases are as shown in the image below:

The conclusions for infants and children with fetal alcohol syndrome differ depending on the extent of effects, but almost none of the children affected have normal brain development. Infants and children with fetal alcohol syndrome face many different dilemmas, which may be difficult to manage. Children with fetal alcohol syndrome