Women who consume alcohol while pregnant are subjecting their unborn babies to be at risk for fetal alcohol syndrome causing disabilities and abnormal conditions
Shantelle Rodrigues
Bridgewater State University
Heal 199
Professor Marrella
April 15, 2015
Currently in the United States, one out of eight young women has exposed their child to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). It is a congenital syndrome caused by excessive consumption of alcohol by the mother during pregnancy. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can result in adverse health consequences for the fetus and the developing child. According to Collins (2003) fetal alcohol syndrome occurs in one of every thousand births (pg. 34). Women who consume alcohol while …show more content…
Drinking alcohol while being pregnant causes fetal alcohol syndrome. When the alcohol enters the bloodstream it reaches the developing fetus by crossing the placenta. Alcohol causes higher blood alcohol concentrations in the developing baby than in their body because a fetus metabolizes alcohol slower than an adult does. Alcohol interferes with the delivery of oxygen and optimal nutrition to the unborn baby’s developing tissues and organs, including the brain. The more a women drinks alcohol during her pregnancy, the greater the chance of problems or symptoms there will be in the baby. There are many signs and symptoms that go with FAS. They are: poor growth while the child is in the womb, decreased muscle tone, poor coordination, and delayed development. Also, there are some heart defects such as, ventricular septal defect, and atrial septal defect. Problems with the child’s face, including narrow and small eyes, small head, and small upper jaws can occur as …show more content…
However, this only costs so much because the parents are usually uninsured. Many parents who are alcoholics cannot get a decent job because the alcohol has consumed their whole life so they cannot afford to get the help they want or need. If there are women who are users and cannot stop drinking alcohol during their pregnancy then they can go to a rehabilitation program and be monitored by a health care provider. There are many support groups that can help women who are using such as the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency, SAMHSA National Helpline, Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon Family Groups. No one should ever feel embarrassed or ashamed to be attending any support groups. When getting help it could help save both the mother and unborn child’s life. There is always help as long as a person allows there to be help in their life and stops denying the fact that they are an alcoholic. The first step in receiving help is admitting to the fact that they are an alcoholic and drank while being pregnant. A child’s life should never be at risk for any type of condition or illness due to fetal alcohol
Shantelle Rodrigues
Bridgewater State University
Heal 199
Professor Marrella
April 15, 2015
Currently in the United States, one out of eight young women has exposed their child to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). It is a congenital syndrome caused by excessive consumption of alcohol by the mother during pregnancy. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can result in adverse health consequences for the fetus and the developing child. According to Collins (2003) fetal alcohol syndrome occurs in one of every thousand births (pg. 34). Women who consume alcohol while …show more content…
Drinking alcohol while being pregnant causes fetal alcohol syndrome. When the alcohol enters the bloodstream it reaches the developing fetus by crossing the placenta. Alcohol causes higher blood alcohol concentrations in the developing baby than in their body because a fetus metabolizes alcohol slower than an adult does. Alcohol interferes with the delivery of oxygen and optimal nutrition to the unborn baby’s developing tissues and organs, including the brain. The more a women drinks alcohol during her pregnancy, the greater the chance of problems or symptoms there will be in the baby. There are many signs and symptoms that go with FAS. They are: poor growth while the child is in the womb, decreased muscle tone, poor coordination, and delayed development. Also, there are some heart defects such as, ventricular septal defect, and atrial septal defect. Problems with the child’s face, including narrow and small eyes, small head, and small upper jaws can occur as …show more content…
However, this only costs so much because the parents are usually uninsured. Many parents who are alcoholics cannot get a decent job because the alcohol has consumed their whole life so they cannot afford to get the help they want or need. If there are women who are users and cannot stop drinking alcohol during their pregnancy then they can go to a rehabilitation program and be monitored by a health care provider. There are many support groups that can help women who are using such as the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency, SAMHSA National Helpline, Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon Family Groups. No one should ever feel embarrassed or ashamed to be attending any support groups. When getting help it could help save both the mother and unborn child’s life. There is always help as long as a person allows there to be help in their life and stops denying the fact that they are an alcoholic. The first step in receiving help is admitting to the fact that they are an alcoholic and drank while being pregnant. A child’s life should never be at risk for any type of condition or illness due to fetal alcohol