Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Is the Term Paper

According to recent studies conducted by Ernest Abel and Robert Sokol, the incidence of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is estimated to be 0.33 cases per 1,000 live births. The States of Missouri less than 25 cases of Fetal alcohol Syndrome out of 80,000 recorded live births.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is considered as a serious health problem that has unfortunately affected victims and their families, however according to reports the inherited disorder ness is completely preventable. (Pauker, S.P. By the Way Doctor)

The child suffering from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is equivalent to subjecting that child into child abuse, which has to endure life long. Babies born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome have reported to weigh less and are shorter than normal. Their living routine gets restricted and limited, due to their deformed facial features, poor coordination, learning problems, abnormal joints and limbs, and short memories. Victims of fetal alcohol syndrome often experience mental health problems, disrupted school experience, inappropriate sexual behavior, and trouble with the law, alcohol and drug problems, difficulty caring for themselves and their children, and homelessness.

RESEARCH

The recently conducted research study by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, on 400,000 American women, all of whom had consumed alcohol during pregnancy, concluded that not a single case of fetal alcohol syndrome occurred and no adverse effects on children were found when consumption was under 8.5 drinks per week. It was found that alcohol syndrome only occurred among alcoholics. Therefore it is now evident that, there is no clear risk to a child when the pregnant woman consumes less than one drink per day. (the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Alcohol and Your Unborn Baby).

An experiment of moderate drinking during pregnancy found no negative effects; therefore it is a safe practice. According to researchers one drink per day provides a significant margin of safety, although it is not recommended to drink during pregnancy.

A study of pregnancies in eight European countries found that consuming no more than one drink per day did not affected fetal growth. A follow-up of children at 18 months of age found that those from women who drank during pregnancy, even two drinks per day, scored higher and severe in several areas of development.

The analysis of seven major medical research studies, which researched and studied on 130,000 pregnancies, suggested that consumption of two to fourteen drinks per week does not increase the risk of giving birth to a child with either malformations or fetal alcohol syndrome. The high level of consumptions per occasion resulted in the higher range of blood alcohol content level which contributed towards negative effects.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists concludes that, 'there is no evidence that an occasional drink is harmful. Women who drink heavily throughout pregnancy may have smaller babies with physical and mental handicaps, but women who drink moderately may have babies with no more problems than those women who drink rarely or not at all'. (Abel, E.L. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome)

References

Stratton, K., Howe, C., and Battaglia, F. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Diagnosis, Epidemiology, Prevention, and Treatment. Washington, DC; National Academy Press, 1996.

Streissguth, a., and Kanter, J. (Eds.) the Challenge of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Seattle: University of Washington, 1997.

Stratton, K., Howe, C., and Battaglia, F. (Eds.) Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Diagnosis, Epidemiology, Prevention, and Treatment. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1996.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Alcohol and Your Unborn Baby. Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 1987

Pauker, S.P. By the Way Doctor. Harvard Women's Health Watch, June 2002.

Abel, E.L. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Oradell,…