Each year, as many as 40,000 babies are born with alcohol related defects. The most common defect is known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and it is also the most preventable. Even if the symptoms aren’t physically visible, as these children grow they will encounter obstacles every step of the way. They may have trouble sitting still, trouble with moderation, a proclivity for binge drinking and difficulty learning and remembering new things. While books can be purchased on the subject of learning disabilities and children may be sent to special schools, there is no real cure for FAS so the emphasis is on prevention and education.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is one of the few known preventable causes of mental retardation. Physical features of someone with FAS may include any or all of the following: small eyes, a short upturned nose, small head circumference, a thin upper lip, a cleft palate, light sensitivity, hypoplastic kidneys, a short neck, and deformed joints or limbs. It’s likely that prenatal exposure to alcohol will have side effects, like slow physical growth/development before and after birth, vision or hearing difficulties, hyperactivity, poor impulse control, extreme nervousness, learning disabilities and a short attention span.

It’s best to seek medical advice right away and be forthcoming with your doctor about your alcohol consumption. Doctors cannot diagnose Fetal Alcohol Syndrome before a baby is born, but they can determine the risk. In your baby’s initial weeks of life, the doctor can monitor for birth defects and abnormalities that may become long-lasting troubles. It’s believed that women who drink more than 8 drinks per sitting put their babies at the highest level of risk.

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