Alcohol And Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

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nongenetic
influences that can potentially complicate fetal development.(Harris, p.85)
FAS is due to the mother's consumption of alcohol during pregnancy.
Alcohol in the woman's bloodstream circulates to the fetus via the placenta.
There, the alcohol intrudes with the ability of the fetus to receive a
sufficient amount of oxygen and nourishment for normal development in the brain
and other body organs. The critical time for alcohol teratogenicity is around
the time of conception.

Effects of FAS/FAE

Although alcohol is the only cause of FAS, there are unfortunately
numerous effects. Infants with FAS may have a weak sucking response and an
irregular sucking pattern early in life. Some doctors describe them as
distracted and fatigued when sucking. Withdrawal symptoms such as prolonged
twitching, jitteriness, sweating, and hyperactivity have also been reported in
infants exhibited to alcohol before birth. (Timberlake and Birch, p.1)
Prenatal alcohol exposure is one of the ...

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that children with alcoholic fathers often experience cognitive
abilities and have a greater chance of being hyperactive. These findings were
found in adoption cases, where the biological father was an alcoholic and the
child was raised by nonalcoholic parents.(Cicero,p.3)
FAE is a broad term covering a wide range of success levels, from mild
learning disabilities to a less severe form of FAS. FAE is much harder to
detect than FAS and extremely difficult to diagnose at birth. This is because
FAE conditions begin to occur during school years. These conditions include
behavioral problems, short attention span, language difficulties, and
hyperactivity. (Timberlake and Birch, ...

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