Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Day 2024 is on Monday, September 9, 2024: is FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME worth fighting against?

Monday, September 9, 2024 is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Day 2024. Alcohol Research & Health, Volume 34, Number 1 on gestation day 17

Sponsored Deals
Amazon Gold Box

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

is FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME worth fighting against?

The beautiful children I love, have the same mother. Born 4 years apart they show very clearly the Progression of Alcohol and Drug addiction. The oldest was affected by alcohol, weed and a general party girl kind of lifestyle. The younger was affected by the most addictive drug known, with some of the worst effects on the Person using.

Someone Not knowing better--would assume our youngest son would be far more limited--far more hurt--far more damaged. What kind of life could there be being born addicted to heron?

He struggles, he is a little slow--he has some intestinal issues. But, when he makes progress he makes progress and overcomes. He understands, learns and one day at a time he shows a natural line of development. His Brain Works even if it takes a little longer for him to Get It.

Our little girl is the most brilliant sunshine--a sparkle of Light. Born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder--specifically Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Some thing that CAN be seen on Pet Scans, EEG's and with part of an ear on her cheek.

Her life is chaos for her. Nothing makes sense. Her world is disconnected for her--and for anyone who is around her. She cannot learn something today and remember tomorrow--but, on some days she might? For her--Not every Number 7 is a Number 7, some may have a cross line, some my have a little hook, some may be written as "Seven" some VII some tilted left--or right. Each number 7 is not the same as the other--each is different--and Each number 7 means something else--no two are alike. Seven is Not the same on the clock, not the same on the Phone, not the same on the page of the book. No two number sevens are alike--each must be learned from the start--each must be taught individually.

For her Every part of her life is a Number Seven. For us, every lesson in life is the same as teaching her that this 7 really does mean the same thing as that seven.

If I could stand before God and have One Answered Prayer--I would beg Him to give her a brain that didn't have lesions that will Never go away--I would beg him to give her a connected Corpus Callosum so that her right side could communicate with the left side of her brain. I would beg God to Let all her Number 7's be the Same.

Instead, I stand here before God and Beg him that No Other Child EVER live this kind of life. That No other child ever face the Expectations of Knowing How to walk in a world that just expects her to KNOW that 7 and seven is 7 all the time.

Anyone who has not Loved a child affected by being Pickled before birth MIGHT just assume my son born heron addicted would have so many more issues... We live this expectation as we stand by to Catch her when she is judged--to hold her when she is hurt--to protect her from the fact that One side of Her Brain tells her, "Do it -- DO IT!" before the other side has a chance to remind her, "Wait, You just heard someone say, Don't Do it--or you know that is a lie, or you know the Rule says Not to..."

As...those around her, Chime in to say, "She does that on purpose--She knew the answer yesterday, She is Just Playing you for a Fool--she is so much smarter then you can even see..."

Yes, she does--on one side of her brain... but, she doesn't have a brain that will ever be Okay--she will Never Heal from this one day--she will only learn to Get By--it will only get harder for her--more noticeable as she gets older--more risky for her as she is given more privilege--more difficult as the expectations increase...and with any sign of progress--she is expected to Think Abstractly, remember the lesson and progress, even if just a little slower then her brother.

This is forever. It will never be different and will only get harder. There may be a chance that One day she can Know every 7 is the same--but, she may not the next. This is her Life. Not her fault and no matter what other labels are put on her there is No Cure for Brain Damage.

That's what drinking booze does. That's what happens to a persons brain. Some are hurt more then others. Some pretty little girls don't have ear on their cheeks... Others have it worse. It's a spectrum.

Sadly, most children with FASD are the children of those parents WHO don't have any idea why their child HAS PROABLEMS... Most are still with their biological parents--who as Alcoholics know are the best in Denial... Most Children with FASD are the children who's parents don't have a clue why their child is a mess. Most are untreated, unidentified--people who never get the fact that 7 is 7 all the time...

They attend school with your children. They are 1 out of every 1000 (best we can tell) and perhaps, many are the reason Children today seem to have so many problems. In the past Many died at birth and today--many are saved.

I try hard not to notice them. As to do so is to accuse a mother of the crime of intentionally giving her child my child's life.

Fetal alcohol effects in adult life?

Fetal alcohol effects in adult life?

Yes a person with FASD can live a fairly normal life with the "right" supports. That means someone that can think out of the box and trying differently instead of harder. You can't expect the person with FASD to change very much so the caregivers have to make the adjustments and accommodate them. If you go to Yahoo Groups and search FASD you will find others in the know who can help you on an ongoing basis.

FASD - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder - is a disorder, not a disease that you can catch. As the name applies, there is a whole spectrum of consequences of alcohol on the developing fetus. Alcohol use is different with each drinking mom-to-be as well as other factors, but mostly it is like Russian Roulette. It appears also that the younger siblings seem to be more affected than the older ones. A mom-to-be that drinks every day can have a baby with not much damage whereas a women that binge drinks one time could do that just at the time that something crucial, say in the brain, is deleveoping. No safe level of alcohol during pregnancy has been established.

People that have been exposed to alcohol before birth don't get over it. At times, such as the teen years it gets worse, way worse in most cases, even those living in loving, caring homes. They can be so predispositioned to alcohol at such an early age and harder for them to quit once they start. Hence the cycle continues. I'm not sure exactly how preventable it actually is because we are not doing a good job of preventing it.

Developmentally , those affected usually don't really mature until at least in their mid-30's unfotunately. Adjustments such as a job coach are necessary. Independent living in another issue, but with the proper supports in place to help with money and other areas of their live make a huge difference. You can have someone with a fairly high IQ that can't figure out the bus system because there are too many variables for them to comprehend. They may still have no impulse control or they may still rage and not act appropriately for their age.

There is a wealth of information on the internet now but really not about daily life. Lately the Winnipeg Free Press has a series of articles on FASD. If you do a internet search I'm sure you will find them and they will be very useful since they tell it like it really is. We need to educate people, especially the young people about FASD and make it known like the MADD mothers did with great results.

It is great that you recognize FASD because there is so much DENIAL around all aspects of this disorder, that is not the fault of those affected. Yet we have such a social stigma on something that does much more damage to the fetus than street drugs such as herion and crack cocaine. Many drinking birth moms are poly drug users but alcohol is usually their drug of choice.

Thank you for asking.

Had a glass of wine before I knew was pregnant

Had a glass of wine before I knew was pregnant. Will my child have fetal alcohol syndrome? Now 18wks-no more.?

The risk of your baby being born with FAS is NEXT TO ZERO. But you are right to stop.

It is NOT OKAY to even lightly imbibe while pregnant.

It is clear that FASD is only 100% preventable when pregnant women ABSTAIN from drinking alcohol. PERIOD.

Why take the risk? Is drinking that important?

If you wouldn't serve your toddler an alcoholic beverage, you should not serve it to your developing fetus.

National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome:

"No safe time. No safe amount. No safe alcohol. Period."

FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders) affects 1 in 100 live births or as many as 40,000 infants each year. This is completely preventable. FASD is not genetic and the babies would be born healthy otherwise. We should all be upset at the answers you have received regarding drinking while pregnant.

"While it is apparent that children who meet the criteria for full-blown FAS are born to those mothers who consume large amounts of alcohol during pregnancy, studies have reported a wide range of neurological damage, neurobehavioral deficits and intrauterine growth retardation in infants born to mothers who were only light alcohol consumers during pregnancy."

You are a wise, caring mom to be concerned... continue with your good sense and abstain from drinking :o)

Also on this date Monday, September 9, 2024...