The following information has come from the Minnesota Department of Health Guideline of Care for Children With Special health Care Needs
For a full copy of the report visit -
Q’s & A’s on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome:
How much alcohol is safe to drink while pregnant?
- There is no known safe amount of alcohol to use during pregnancy.
How does alcohol get to my baby?
- Alcohol goes through the mothers’ blood stream and the baby absorbs it through the placenta.
- What the mother drinks the baby drinks also.
Does alcohol effect the fetus differently during development?
- Yes, during the three different trimesters of pregnancy, the fetus can be affected differently by alcohol.
| Alcohol can have the following Effects on a growing fetus: | ||
| First Trimester (1-3 months) | Second Trimester (3-6 months) | Third Trimester (6-9 months) |
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How common is fetal alcohol syndrome?
- It is estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), that FAS prevalence rates range from 2 to 15 cases per 10,000 live births.
http://www.thearc.org/fetalalcohol.html
What is FAS and FAE?
- FAS is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, an alcohol related birth disability.
- FAE is Fetal Alcohol Effects, children are affected by alcohol but do not have all the features of FAS.
What are some common characteristics?
- The effects to a child can range from moderate to severe.
Physical Characteristics: - Low birth weight
- Small weight, length, and head size for age
- Facial Malformations:
- Short eye slits
- Droopy eyelids
- Widely spaced eyes
- Nearsightedness
- Crossed eyes
- Short upturned nose
- Thin upper lip
- Low and /or wide bridge nose
- Flat midface
- Small underdeveloped jaw