In it, we plan to look under the labels at the real risks of drinking during pregnancy and the tragedy of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. We'll even include some simple steps for reducing the risk of problems in your pregnancy. Because even though it may take centuries to make us aware of a problem, it doesn't have to take that long for us to do something about it. Although a link had been suspected since ancient times, FAS wasn't formally recognized until 1973. Alcohol is the leading cause of mental retardation in the United States today.
Babies born to drinking mothers are physically smaller than the babies of non-drinkers.
Alcohol can disrupt organ formation and growth, causing defects in the heart, kidneys, muscles, joints, and sex organs. They're generally milder forms of the problems triggered by FAS , but are just as preventable. FAS symptoms occur most often in children born to women who average five or more drinks a day. Still, even a drink or two several times a week can lead to problems. The same way a bomb causes an explosion.