UNDERSTANDING PRENATAL ALCOHOL EXPOSURE FASD FAS

The U.S. Surgeon General’s Warning Alcohol consumed during pregnancy increases the risk of alcohol-related birth defects… Growth deficiencies Facial abnormalities Central nervous system impairment Leading known cause of mental retardation in the U.S. Behavioral disorders Impaired intellectual development No amount of alcohol consumption can be considered safe during pregnancy

Alcohol can damage a fetus at any trimester of pregnancy Damage can occur before a woman knows that she is pregnant Alcohol-related birth defects are completely PREVENTABLE FASD FAS

FASD: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Spectrum of disorders caused by prenatal alcohol exposure that includes Physical disabilities Mental disabilities Behavioral disabilities Learning disabilities Range from mild to severe, can last a lifetime

FAS: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Most severe end of the FASD spectrum Three major diagnostic criteria Distinctive, abnormal facial features Growth deficiencies Central nervous system problems

Physical Signs of FAS Small head circumference Flat midface Small eye sockets Short nose Smooth philtrum Thin upper lip Low nasal bridge Eyelid fold Low ears Underdeveloped jaw

Non-Physical Signs of FAS Learning disabilities Attention deficits Hyperactivity Poor impulsive control Poor social skills Language difficulties Memory deficits

Severe Injury to the Developing Brain

FAS Can Be Diagnosed… Difficult to diagnose because Damage can be subtle No one test Misdiagnosed Genetic & environmental factors can cause similar disabilities/abnormalities

Facts 1 in 100 babies (40,000 babies annually) is born with some effects of prenatal alcohol exposure 1 in 1,000 babies is born with FAS FAS costs up to $6 billion At least 1 out of every 5 pregnant women uses alcohol/drugs.

All Types of Alcoholic Beverages Should Be Avoided A standard drink = .60oz of pure alcohol One 12oz beer or wine cooler One 5oz glass of wine One 1.5oz shot of liquor No safe amount!

How Alcohol Reaches the Fetus When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, it moves across the placenta into the fetus’s bloodstream through the umbilical cord. Fetus’s blood alcohol level twice the amount of the mother Babies are also vulnerable while breastfeeding through the breast milk Sperm can also be damaged by alcohol and can cause a miscarriage

How Alcohol Reaches the Fetus

What Can We Do? Stop drinking, if pregnant or could become pregnant Educate about the dangers Help families find medical, county, and community resources

UNDERSTANDING PRENATAL DRUG EXPOSURE

Drug Categories Prescription Drugs Nonprescription Drugs Social Drugs Illicit Drugs Dietary supplements

What is a Teratogen? An agent that causes physical or developmental defects in an unborn child. Alcohol Mercury Nicotine Drugs

How Do Drugs Reach an Unborn Child? Drugs move across the placenta into the fetus’s bloodstream through the umbilical cord.

Using Drugs Increases the Risk of… Prenatal death Premature birth Miscarriage Birth defects Low birth weight Small head size Neurobehavioral symptoms

Withdrawal Symptoms A newborn who was exposed to drugs before birth shows the following signs… Tremors Sleeplessness Muscle spasms Feeding difficulties

Short-Term & Long-Term Effects Breathing problems Cerebral palsy Hearing/vision problems Irritability Poor fine motor skills Reduced cognitive ability Lack of social skills Delayed language development Hyperactivity Mood swings/loss of control Shorter attention span

What Can We Do? Stop using all drugs Educate Support from community programs

A Closer Look at Exposure to Alcohol & Drugs FAS Manikin Drug-affected Demo