As the name suggests, fetal alcohol syndrome is related to the intake of alcohol during pregnancy. To be precise, the syndrome is caused because the fetus was exposed to alcohol through pregnancy. FAS or fetal alcohol syndrome must not be taken lightly because it can cause serious problems such as mental defects and physical defects. Claim Your 20 Free Pregnancy Tests – Click Here
The worst part is that these can’t even be treated and your child will have to live with them throughout his life. In the United States of America, it has been estimated that every year around 40,000 babies suffer with FAS and that is a huge number. While the effects caused by FAS are not curable, FAS itself can be prevented.
The most prominent symptoms of FAS include facial deformities, developmental delays, low birth weight, organ dysfunction, hyperactivity, and epilepsy. These are only a few of the many symptoms. In some cases, the kids are not even diagnosed with FAS. A child with FAS will be very irritable and his sleep habits will be very poor. You should try your best to put him to sleep, thus. You can try singing to him or playing soft music so that he dozes off. Low lighting is another option as is holding your baby close and rocking him back and forth gently so that he falls asleep. If your child has chronic ear infections, you should talk to the pediatrician.
If there are developmental delays such as delay in rolling or crawling or walking, you should talk to an occupational therapist. Speech delays can be helped through special tapes and toys. You can also talk to a speech therapist. You should read aloud to your baby and speak to him loudly too.
With age, the problems will only get worse for your child. Young adults with FAS have been known to be very dependent. There has also been evidence to support the belief that most of them get involved in crimes. You should, thus, prevent FAS at any cost.
If your child has FAS, you should do everything in your power to make things better for him. After all, and it may sound harsh but it is true, you are to be blamed for the condition of your child. It is your responsibility to ensure that he manages his life properly.
It is very likely that he will need your help with everything including money management, employment, social skills, and housing skills. You will need to help him make decisions too. Mental health problems among FAS kids and young adults are also extremely common. About 83 percent of the kids born with FAS have difficulty living independently. In other words they will depend on you for life.
You have to prevent FAS by taking good care of yourself during your pregnancy and abstaining from alcohol throughout. Right from the time you discover that you are pregnant, you should stop drinking alcohol all together. It’d be better still to give up alcohol right from the time you plan to get pregnant. Alcohol does not do any good and giving it up will help your baby in numerous ways!
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