Current alcohol use is reported in 1 in 10 pregnancies, and binge drinking is reported in 1 in 22. From the moment of conception, no amount of alcohol is safe. Any alcohol a pregnant woman consumes is also consumed by the developing fetus, exposing them to the same blood alcohol concentration. Alcohol is toxic to a fetus, and babies in utero do not have the ability to metabolize alcohol. Any fetus exposed to alcohol, at any point in their development, is at risk of developing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
What is FASD?
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder occurs when alcohol interferes with the development of a baby’s brain and other critical organs and physiological functions. The disorder encompasses a wide range of physical, behavioral, and cognitive impairments that may occur. The spectrum impacts as many as 1-5% of U.S. children in the first grade.
Physical manifestations of FASD include heart defects and visual impairments, while behavioral and cognitive challenges can present through difficulty in learning and memory, understanding and following directions, switching attention between tasks, controlling emotions, impulsivity, communicating and developing social skills, and performing daily life skills. FASD’s distinguishing facial features include a smooth ridge (philtrum) between the nose and lip, a thin upper lip, small eyes, flat midface, and low nasal bridge; however, not all individuals affected by FASD possess all of these features.
FASD Treatment
Early identification of FASD is crucial for affected individuals and their families. Sarasota’s The Florida Center for Early Childhood is Florida’s only FASD clinic and offers evaluations to individuals of all ages who may have had prenatal exposure to alcohol. After a diagnostic evaluation is provided, The Florida Center offers targeted interventions, such as speech/language therapy and mental health services, as well as support and education. As a state-funded clinic, these services are free of charge to all Florida residents with confirmed alcohol exposure in utero.
Zero Alcohol While Pregnant
Prenatal alcohol exposure is also associated with an increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Not all babies will be affected by alcohol during pregnancy, but it is impossible to know which babies will be affected and to what extent. Pregnant individuals experiencing alcohol addiction should seek substance abuse treatment.
RESOURCES: CDC, The Florida Center, Cleveland Clinic, FASD United; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2023.
