Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Essay -- Health

Many women that become pregnant are unaware of the consequences of drinking alcohol during pregnancy and the damaging effects it has on the fetus. When a woman who is pregnant drinks alcohol, the baby is also drinking alcohol. Furthermore, the amount of alcohol that is consumed by the come is the same amount the baby receives through the mothers placenta. Many doctors advise that it is okay for the mother to lease an occasional drink, however, some women cannot stop at one drink, and they handle to drink in excess throughout their pregnancy. Still, even moderate consumption of alcohol is not wise, because it is still unknown how much alcohol the fetus is able to tolerate without potential harm. Consequently, a fetus that has been exposed to alcohol while in the mothers womb has a high probability of being born with foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Women that want to become pregnant or are pregnant need to be educated on the effects that alcohol can have on the fetus and th e devastating result of having a child born with FAS. Fetal alcohol syndrome was first discovered and treated in the late 1960s in France and a few years later in the United States. This syndrome results from the toxic effect of alcohol and its chemical factors on the developing fetus and brain (Christensen 1). harmonize to many physicians and researchers, FAS is one of the leading causes of birth defects and develop amiable disabilities, along with Down syndrome and spina bifida in the U.S. Moreover, FAS is said to be the number one cause of nonhereditary mental retardation (Christensen 1). Out of each 10,000 children born in the U.S., between 3 and 30 suffer from FAS. The overwhelming effects of this condition can easily be prevented if the mothe... ...s work, but exactly how it happens is still under investigation. The research continues on the nutritional, hormonal and cellular events regulating fetal development to help guide early interventions in children with FAS. Educ ation on FAS should come from the womans doctor or a mandatory motherhood class, which could be provided at the physicians office, teaching the importance of taking care of the babys wellness during pregnancy. If a woman chooses not to take her babys welfare into consideration while she is pregnant, this should be considered gross negligence and should incur high penalties. The consequences of knowingly hurting the fetus could result in being imprisoned for a specific amount of time, rehabilitation if warranted, and or community service at a county facility that houses sight who have mental and or physical problems that stem from FAS.