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Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a group of birth defects that are caused by a woman drinking alcohol during her pregnancy. The effects on her baby can include physical, behavioral, and and learning problems. Other problems may include face, heart and/or limb defects, slow growth, mental retardation, behavioral problems, and/or developmental delay.
The term FASD include defects ranging in severity. At the most severe end of the spectrum is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), in which the baby typically has abnormal facial features, growth problems, and difficulty with learning, memory, vision, hearing, and communication. Depending on the symptoms, other conditions under the FASD umbrella include Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND) and Alcohol-Related Birth Defects (ARBD).
Children of all races and income levels have experienced the affect of their mother’s alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The effects last a lifetime. There is NO safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Therefore, pregnant women should NOT consume alcohol. Because a woman may not know for several weeks that she is pregnant it is also important for women to consider not drinking while they are trying to conceive a baby. FASDs are the only known birth defects that are 100% preventable.
IMPORTANT LINKS AND RESOURCES!!
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Return to Listing of Birth Defects
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