Alcohol use during
pregnancy may damage a developing fetus. The possibility, extent, and
type of damage depends on the amount of alcohol use; the frequency of
use; and the fetus's genetic susceptibility and stage of development.
Heavy alcohol use (5 or more drinks on one occasion) during pregnancy
can cause a child to have growth retardation, facial abnormalities,
birth defects, mental retardation, or behavior and learning problems.
Lesser amounts of alcohol use during pregnancy may cause any
combination of these effects to a milder degree. Heavy alcohol
use during pregnancy can also lead to miscarriage, premature delivery,
or stillbirth. What is the range of alcohol effects? Children
with the most severe effects are said to have fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
or fetal alcohol abuse syndrome (FAAS). These children have
characteristic facial features (a small face, narrow eye openings, a
short upturned nose, a flattened groove between the nose and the upper
lip, and a thin upper lip), growth retardation, and mental and
behavioral problems (central nervous system effects). They may also
have birth defects that involve the eyes, ears, heart, urinary tract,
or bones. Children with less severe effects from alcohol exposure
during fetal development may have one or a combination of these
characteristics to a milder degree. Some experts use the term
fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) to include all categories of
alcohol effects on a fetus.
FASlink is the Canadian Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome Internet support, information, advocacy and discussion forum.
http://www.acbr.com/fas/
Michigan
Resources, Support Groups, Listservs & Websites
Q: What is fetal alcohol syndrome? (Q and A from Detroit Free Press)
A: Permanent physical, mental and behavioral birth
defects caused by alcohol use during pregnancy.
Q: What characteristics does a child with the syndrome have?
A: Some have small eye shape and physical stature. Some are hyperactive, have
learning disabilities and poor reasoning skills. Many are very trusting.
Q: What is the long-term prognosis for such a child?
A: It depends on the severity. Early intervention makes a difference.
Q: Who diagnoses children in metro Detroit?
A: The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor has a clinic and Children's Hospital
of Michigan in Detroit is starting one. For U-M, call 734-936-9777, 8 a.m.-4:30
p.m. weekdays; for Children's call 313-745-4263, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
(FASD) Families
Supporting Families
Support Group for families living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, meets
2nd Monday of each month, 6:30 p.m., CARE offices, 31900 Utica Road, Fraser, MI
48026; contact Shelly Bania, (586)541-0033 x222 or
sbania@careofmacomb.com.
National Institute on
Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Willco Building, 6000 Executive Boulevard
Bethesda, MD 20892-7003
Phone: (800) 729-6686
Phone: (888) NIH-NIDA
Web Address:
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov NIAAA provides pamphlets, brochures, and referral information about
alcohol use problems. Information can be obtained by writing or
calling or by printing it from the Web site.
National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS)
216 G Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 785-4585
Fax: (202) 466-6456
E-mail: information@nofas.org
Web Address: http://www.nofas.org This is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating birth
defects caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy. It also is
dedicated to improving the quality of life for those people with fetal
alcohol effects and their families. The NOFAS national information
clearinghouse provides information, resources, and referrals for
people with fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects. The
organization also publishes a free quarterly newsletter for families
and professionals.
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD),
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
1600 Clifton Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30333
Phone: (770) 488-7150
Fax: (770) 488-7361
Web Address:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/default.htm NCBDDD seeks to promote optimal fetal, infant, and child
development; prevent birth defects and childhood developmental
disabilities; and enhance the quality of life and prevent secondary
conditions among children, adolescents, and adults who are living with
a disability. The Web site has a wealth of information on relevant
topics.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Family Resource Institute
P.O. Box 2525
Lynnwood, WA 98036
Phone: (253) 531-2878
Phone: (800) 999-3429
E-mail:
vicky@fetalalcoholsyndrome.org
Web Address:
http://www.fetalalcoholsyndrome.org The FAS Family Resource Institute is a nonprofit organization whose
mission is to identify, understand, and care for people who have been
affected by fetal exposure to alcohol and their families, and to
prevent FAS in the future. This organization provides a newsletter for
people with FAS and their families, in addition to workshops and
training programs for families and professionals.
MI
Raising Awareness:
Grant to Fight Fetal Alcohol Syndrome - Peggy Miller-Zelinko
needs to set a routine for her son, Andrew. When he gets up, when he
takes a shower, when he eats, when he does his school work, even when
he uses the bathroom needs to be predictable. If she doesn't, Andrew,
12, falls apart.
MO
Springfield to Get Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Clinic - The "problem
child" in elementary school is getting early, better therapy these
days, thanks to increased awareness of conditions such as
attention-deficit disorder. But the true diagnosis for unusual
behavior may go overlooked, because medical schools spend little time
on the topic: fetal alcohol syndrome.
