General Definition
Maternal prenatal alcohol use is one of the leading preventable causes of birth defects and developmental disabilities. Children exposed to alcohol during fetal development can suffer a wide array of disorders. They can have behavior and learning problems. They can be born prematurely. They can be small for their age throughout their development. They can have vision, speech, and hearing problems. They can have breathing and heart problems. They may be born with arms or legs that aren’t completely developed. Or they could be mentally retarded.
In the United States, more children are born each year with the alcohol-related disorders, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND), than are born with Down Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, and Spina Bifida combined. Yet these alcohol-related disorders are 100% preventable if pregnant women avoid drinking alcohol.
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