Tiffany Emry

Mrs. Thoryk
Health & Science
11 April 2016

FAS
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a pattern of birth defects such as learning and
behavioral problems that affects an individual whose mother drank alcohol while pregnant.
Although some children with have FAS, they may not show symptoms of it. According to Dr.
Mary Harding and Dr. Hayley Willacy, FAS and FASD only occur in babies born to mothers
who drink alcohol during pregnancy. It is not known exactly how much alcohol is safe in
pregnancy. Heavy drinking and binge drinking are more likely to cause damage to the baby. Not
every mother who drinks heavily in pregnancy has a baby with FAS. This quote states that it is
not safe to drink while pregnant, but that some mothers that have drank while pregnant have had
babies that did not have FAS.
FAS is independent of ethnicity, gender, or race of an individual. Individuals from
different backgrounds exposed to similar amounts of alcohol during pregnancy can show
different symptoms of FAS, depending on the degree of alcohol use. CDC shows FAS occurs in .
5 to 2 per 1,000 live births in the United States. The cause of FAS is use of alcohol during
pregnancy. FAS is not hereditary or genetic. The father can not cause FAS. Some individuals
who are exposed to alcohol during pregnancy may not have signs or symptoms of FAS.
Signs and Symptoms of FAS is many things, if you adopted a child or consumed alcohol
during pregnancy and are concerned that your child may have FAS. The signs and symptoms are;
epilepsy, poor coordination motor skills, poor socialization skills, poor imagination or curiosity,

poor memory, behavioral problems, birth weight is low, head is small, unable to thrive,
development is late, organ dysfunction, facial abnormalities.
FAS is irreversible, there is no cure but there is treatment that can reduce the symptoms.
A person that has FAS can see specialists such as: Pediatrician which this provides medical care
to infants, children, and teenagers. Speech Therapist which is voice rehabilitation. Pediatric
clinical care doctor which monitors and treats children in intensive care. Maternal fetal medicine
specialist focuses on medical management to high risk pregnancies. Psychiatrist which treats
mental disorders primarily with medications. Primary care provider which prevents diagnoses
and treats diseases. OBGYN doctor which focuses on reproductive health in women and
childbirth.

https://www.google.com/search?
hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=701&q=FAS+pictures&o
q=FAS+pictures&gs_l=img.3..0l2j0i5i30j0i8i30l2.447.36242.0.36621.20.17.3.0.0.0.27
8.2682.2j8j6.16.0....0...1.1.64.img..1.16.2399.yVoh58Xa6Cw#hl=en&tbm=isch&q=FA
S+&imgrc=TcgdLOeb9JVC6M%3A

http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/HWRC/hits?
docNum=DU2601000536&aci=flag&tcit=1_1_0_1_0_1&index=BA&locID=lom_access
mich&rlt=1&origSearch=true&t=RK&s=1&r=d&secondary=false&o=&n=10&l=d&se
archTerm=2NTA&c=4&basicSearchOption=KE&bucket=ref&SU=FAS

http://kidshealth.orghttp://kidshealth.org/en/parents/fas.html/en/parent
s/fas.html

patient.info/health/fetal-alcohol-syndrome-leaflet