Transcript FAS - Gull Lake Community Schools

UNDERSTANDING PRENATAL
ALCOHOL EXPOSURE
FASD
FAS
The U.S. Surgeon General’s Warning
 Alcohol consumed during pregnancy increases
the risk of alcohol-related birth defects…
Growth deficiencies
Facial abnormalities
Central nervous system impairment
Leading known cause of mental retardation in the U.S.
Behavioral disorders
Impaired intellectual development
 No amount of alcohol consumption can be
considered safe during pregnancy
Alcohol can damage a fetus at any
trimester of pregnancy
Damage can occur before a woman knows that
she is pregnant
Alcohol-related birth defects are
completely PREVENTABLE
FASD
FAS
FASD: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorders
Spectrum of disorders caused by prenatal
alcohol exposure that includes
Physical disabilities
Mental disabilities
Behavioral disabilities
Learning disabilities
Range from mild to severe, can last a
lifetime
FAS: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Most severe end of the FASD spectrum
Three major diagnostic criteria
Distinctive, abnormal facial features
Growth deficiencies
Central nervous system problems
Physical Signs of FAS
 Small head circumference
 Flat midface
 Small eye sockets
 Short nose
 Smooth philtrum
 Thin upper lip
 Low nasal bridge
 Eyelid fold
 Low ears
 Underdeveloped jaw
Non-Physical Signs of FAS
Learning disabilities
Attention deficits
Hyperactivity
Poor impulsive control
Poor social skills
Language difficulties
Memory deficits
Severe Injury to the Developing Brain
FAS Can Be Diagnosed…
Difficult to diagnose because
Damage can be subtle
No one test
Misdiagnosed
Genetic & environmental factors can cause
similar disabilities/abnormalities
Facts
1 in 100 babies (40,000 babies annually)
is born with some effects of prenatal
alcohol exposure
1 in 1,000 babies is born with FAS
FAS costs up to $6 billion
At least 1 out of every 5 pregnant
women uses alcohol/drugs.
All Types of Alcoholic Beverages
Should Be Avoided
A standard drink = .60oz of pure alcohol
One 12oz beer or wine cooler
One 5oz glass of wine
One 1.5oz shot of liquor
No safe amount!
How Alcohol Reaches the Fetus
 When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, it
moves across the placenta into the fetus’s
bloodstream through the umbilical cord.
Fetus’s blood alcohol level twice the amount of the
mother
 Babies are also vulnerable while breastfeeding
through the breast milk
 Sperm can also be damaged by alcohol and can
cause a miscarriage
How Alcohol Reaches the Fetus
What Can We Do?
Stop drinking, if pregnant or could become
pregnant
Educate about the dangers
Help families find medical, county, and
community resources
UNDERSTANDING PRENATAL
DRUG EXPOSURE
Drug Categories
Prescription Drugs
Nonprescription Drugs
Social Drugs
Illicit Drugs
Dietary supplements
What is a Teratogen?
An agent that causes physical or
developmental defects in an unborn child.
Alcohol
Mercury
Nicotine
Drugs
How Do Drugs Reach an Unborn
Child?
Drugs move across the placenta into the
fetus’s bloodstream through the
umbilical cord.
Using Drugs Increases the Risk of…
Prenatal death
Premature birth
Miscarriage
Birth defects
Low birth weight
Small head size
Neurobehavioral symptoms
Withdrawal Symptoms
A newborn who was exposed to drugs
before birth shows the following signs…
Tremors
Sleeplessness
Muscle spasms
Feeding difficulties
Short-Term & Long-Term Effects
 Breathing problems
 Cerebral palsy
 Hearing/vision
problems
 Irritability
 Poor fine motor skills
 Reduced cognitive
ability
 Lack of social skills
 Delayed language
development
 Hyperactivity
 Mood swings/loss of
control
 Shorter attention span
What Can We Do?
Stop using all drugs
Educate
Support from community programs
A Closer Look at Exposure to Alcohol
& Drugs
FAS Manikin
Drug-affected Demo