Fetal Alcohol Fetal Alcohol Syndrome:Syndrome:Is One Drink During Is One Drink During

Pregnancy Too Much?Pregnancy Too Much?

By Katelyn JohnsonBy Katelyn Johnson

What is Fetal Alcohol What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?Syndrome?

Commonly referred to as FASCommonly referred to as FAS Damage done to a child before Damage done to a child before

birth as a result of the mother birth as a result of the mother

drinking alcohol during pregnancydrinking alcohol during pregnancy Always involves brain damage, Always involves brain damage,

impaired growth, and/or head and face impaired growth, and/or head and face abnormalities. abnormalities.

Effects can include physical problems and Effects can include physical problems and problems with behavior and learning. problems with behavior and learning.

There is no cure or treatment for the There is no cure or treatment for the disabilities of FAS.disabilities of FAS.

MECHANISMMECHANISM Alcohol in the mother's blood crosses the Alcohol in the mother's blood crosses the

placenta freely and enters the embryo or placenta freely and enters the embryo or fetus through the umbilical cord. The exact fetus through the umbilical cord. The exact mechanism(s) by which alcohol damages mechanism(s) by which alcohol damages the fetus and critical times of exposure are the fetus and critical times of exposure are not known; however, exposure during the not known; however, exposure during the first trimester results in the structural first trimester results in the structural defects (i.e., facial changes) characteristic defects (i.e., facial changes) characteristic of FAS, whereas the growth and CNS of FAS, whereas the growth and CNS disturbances could occur from alcohol use disturbances could occur from alcohol use during any time in pregnancy. during any time in pregnancy.

SYMPTOMSSYMPTOMS Abnormal facial features, such as a smooth ridge between the Abnormal facial features, such as a smooth ridge between the

nose and upper lipnose and upper lip Small head sizeSmall head size Shorter-than-average heightShorter-than-average height Low body weightLow body weight Poor coordinationPoor coordination Hyperactive behaviorHyperactive behavior Difficulty paying attentionDifficulty paying attention Poor memoryPoor memory Difficulty in schoolDifficulty in school Learning disabilitiesLearning disabilities Speech and language delaysSpeech and language delays Intellectual disability of low IQIntellectual disability of low IQ Poor reasoning and judgment skillsPoor reasoning and judgment skills Sleep problems as a babySleep problems as a baby Vision or hearing problemsVision or hearing problems Problems with the heart, kidneys, or bonesProblems with the heart, kidneys, or bones

FEATURESFEATURES

HISTORICAL CLAIMHISTORICAL CLAIM Center for Disease Control Center for Disease Control

says there is no known says there is no known amount of alcohol that is safe amount of alcohol that is safe to drink while pregnant. to drink while pregnant. There is also no safe time to There is also no safe time to drink during pregnancy and drink during pregnancy and no safe kind of alcohol to no safe kind of alcohol to drink while pregnant. drink while pregnant.

This has led to the historical This has led to the historical claim that ONE DRINK or claim that ONE DRINK or SEVERAL DRINKS SEVERAL DRINKS throughout pregnancy causes throughout pregnancy causes FAS.FAS.

RESEARCH FOR CLAIMRESEARCH FOR CLAIM There is no scientific There is no scientific

support for the type of support for the type of widespread hysteria widespread hysteria that permeates public that permeates public discussion on fetal discussion on fetal alcohol syndrome. alcohol syndrome.

On websites that On websites that promoted “Pregnant promoted “Pregnant women should not drink women should not drink during pregnancy at during pregnancy at all,” there was no all,” there was no scientific research to scientific research to back it up.back it up.

RESEARCH AGAINST RESEARCH AGAINST CLAIMCLAIM

A large study examined 400,000 women in A large study examined 400,000 women in the U.S., all of whom had consumed alcohol the U.S., all of whom had consumed alcohol during pregnancy. Not a single case of fetal during pregnancy. Not a single case of fetal alcohol syndrome occurred and no adverse alcohol syndrome occurred and no adverse effects on children were found when effects on children were found when consumption was under 7 drinks per week. consumption was under 7 drinks per week.

A review of research studies found that FAS A review of research studies found that FAS only occurs among alcoholics. The evidence is only occurs among alcoholics. The evidence is clear that there is NO apparent risk to a child clear that there is NO apparent risk to a child when the pregnant woman consumes no more when the pregnant woman consumes no more than than one drinkone drink per day per day

CONTINUEDCONTINUED A study of pregnancies in eight A study of pregnancies in eight

European countries found that European countries found that consuming no more than one consuming no more than one drink per day did not appear to drink per day did not appear to have any effect on fetal have any effect on fetal growth. A follow-up of children growth. A follow-up of children at 18 months of age found that at 18 months of age found that those from women who drank those from women who drank during pregnancy, even two during pregnancy, even two drinks per day, scored higher drinks per day, scored higher in several areas of in several areas of development. development.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION The American College of Obstetricians The American College of Obstetricians

and Gynecologists concluded that “there and Gynecologists concluded that “there is no evidence that an occasional drink is no evidence that an occasional drink is harmful.”is harmful.”

Women should be careful about alcohol Women should be careful about alcohol consumption in pregnancy.consumption in pregnancy.

It's hard to determine the amount and It's hard to determine the amount and timing of alcohol consumption that puts timing of alcohol consumption that puts the fetus at risk. the fetus at risk.

No safe limit on consumption has been No safe limit on consumption has been proven proven

REFERENCESREFERENCES

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/facthttp://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/facts.htmls.html

http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publicationhttp://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa50.htms/aa50.htm

http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/FetalAlcoholSyndrome.htmlFetalAlcoholSyndrome.html