Potential Problems
For those who might think drinking during pregnancy is no big deal, here is a list of the potential problems their newborns could be facing as a result, according to Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse:
Small body size and weight
Slower than normal development and failure to "catch up."
Deformed ribs and sternum
Curved spine and hip dislocations
Bent, fused, webbed, or missing fingers or toes
Limited movement of joints
Small head
Facial abnormalities
Small eye openings
Skin webbing between eyes and base of nose
Drooping eyelids
Nearsightedness
Failure of eyes to move in same direction
Short upturned nose
Sunken nasal bridge
Flat or absent groove between nose and upper lip
Thin upper lip
Opening in roof of mouth
Small jaw
Low-set or poorly formed ears
Organ deformities
Heart defects or heart murmurs
Genital malformations
Kidney and urinary defects
Central nervous system handicaps
Small brain
Faulty arrangement of brain cells and connective tissue
Mental retardation -- occasionally severe
Learning disabilities
Short attention span
Irritability in infancy
Hyperactivity in childhood
Poor body, hand, and finger coordination
Permanent Effects
No, it's not a pretty picture, but it is not intended to be. It's very serious. These effects are not temporary; they can cause a lifetime of physical and emotional pain --not to mention expense. FAS is a large price to pay for a few drinks during pregnancy.
If you are pregnant, don't take a chance with your baby's future; stop drinking immediately. If you have tried to stop and find that you just cannot seem to give it up, help and support are available.
If you are pregnant and drinking, your unborn child is not the only one at risk. Research shows that women who drink face more health problems than men who drink the same amount.
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