Effects of Alcohol During Pregnancy

How does consuming alcohol effect your baby’s development?

• Your baby is continually growing throughout the nine months of pregnancy; excessive drinking can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or Fetal Alcohol Effects. – These are lifetime effects that can cause physical,

mental, and neurobehavioral birth defects.

Information from: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/alcohol.html

Characteristics & Behaviors in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

• Abnormal facial features• Small head size• Shorter-than-average

height• Low body weight• Poor coordination• Hyperactive behavior• Difficulty paying

attention• Poor memory

• Difficulty in school (math)• Learning disabilities• Speech & Language delays• Intellectual disability (Low IQ)• Poor reasoning and judgment

skills• Sleeping & sucking problems

as baby• Vision or hearing problems• Problems with heart, kidneys,

and bones

Information from: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/index.html

What If You Consumed Alcohol and Didn’t Know You Were Pregnant?

• The best thing you can do when you find out that you are pregnant is to STOP drinking immediately. The sooner you quit, the better decrease in effects your baby will have.

• REMEMBER: there is no safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy.

Information from: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/alcohol.html

Pictures of FAS