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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Contact: Adhara King

A pregnant mother's alcohol intake becomes her baby's nightmare

Wednesday, September 10, 2008 – Women of a child bearing age are being warned of the effects of alcohol on their future offspring as part of a public awareness campaign of the Department of Youth and Sports.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) have become more common in today's society with the increase in alcohol consumption by women. In light of this, FASD Awareness Day is recognized internationally on September 9th.

Medical Doctor, Stephen King cautions: “The use of alcohol by the pregnant mother can cause a number of very serious birth defects. These include damage to the brain that can cause a child to suffer permanent brain damage that results in poor intellectual performance, poor decision making, inadequate social skills, memory problems, hyper activity, attention deficit, and mental health disorders. The physical appearance of the child can be affected with certain rather characteristic facial abnormalities including a small head.”

Alcohol is now the number one environmental cause of birth defects worldwide, King said, since the first case of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome was diagnosed in 1968. According to King, although Fetal Alchol Syndrome is the most severe FASD, a variety of disorders exist, some of which are not immediately detectable.

“The rules to follow are: 1. Pregnant women should drink no- and I emphasize, NO- alcohol at all. And this includes all types of alcohol including the wine coolers, the liqueurs, the wines, the spirits, beer, shandy, everything. 2. Pregnant women who have unknowingly used alcohol in pregnancy should stop as soon as they know they are pregnant. 3. Pregnancies should be planned. Women should use contraceptives so they could consciously stop all alcohol when they decide to get pregnant,” said Dr. King.

Dr. King said women should acknowledge the privilege of being able to nurture a unique individual in their womb, and should respect the responsibility of giving their children the best possible start in life.

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