A pregnant woman is at risk of many health problems especially because she is actually having two lives to take care of, herself and the unborn child inside her. This is the reason that a woman should be extra careful in all the activities she engage in, in order to protect both herself and the baby. However, at times, a woman can be very careless an irresponsible of her body that she still resort to vices such as drinking alcoholic beverages even if by conventional wisdom, she should know that this may be harmful not just to herself but more to her child. As a result of the mother's irresponsibility, it is the child who bears the greatest weight. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) "is a set of physical and mental birth defects that can result when a woman drinks alcohol during her pregnancy" (National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome [NOFAS], 2004).
[...] This article provides a brief outline of the pertinent facts about Fetal Alcohol syndrome. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Family Resource Institute. (2007). Symptoms. Retrieved May from http://www.fetalalcoholsyndrome.net/. This article explores on the different behavioral symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and gives illustrations on each of the symptoms. Mayo Clinic (2007). Fetal alcohol syndrome. Retrieved May from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fetal-alcohol-syndrome/DS00184/DSECTION=3. This site probed on the different facets of Fetal Alcohol syndrome which include the signs and symptoms to watch out for, risk factors, screening and diagnosis, etc. [...]
[...] Prevention With the information presented, there is only one way to prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, that is, for a woman drink alcohol while she is pregnant or could become pregnant” (CDC, 2006). This is for the reason that amount of drinking during pregnancy is believed to have adverse effects on fetal development” (ADA). Further, “there is no known safe amount of alcohol, nor a safe time, that a woman can drink while pregnant” (ADA). Women process alcohol differently” (Nicholson, 2005). [...]
[...] Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) a set of physical and mental birth defects that can result when a woman drinks alcohol during her pregnancy” (National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome [NOFAS], 2004). Therefore, it is only through this activity done by the mother that a baby can acquire this disorder. By probing on the causes and other facets of FAS, it can be realized that indeed, FAS can be considered as a mother's way of killing her child. Literature Review Significant Statistics In the Western civilization, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is the leading cause of mental retardation (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome [FAS] Community Resource Center, 2004). [...]
[...] For instance, if the mother knows that she has been drinking while pregnant, she can inform the doctor the timing and amount of alcohol consumption so that the latter can determine the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome (Mayo Clinic, 2007). Moreover, if the doctors are provided with information regarding the drinking habits of the mother during pregnancy, the doctor can look for signs and symptoms during the child's initial weeks and years in life in order to assess whether the child is suffering from FAS. [...]
[...] Drinking during pregnancy is the best way that a mother can do to kill her child. Therefore, there should be an increased awareness campaign in part of the government and of appropriate organizations on the risks and prevention of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. But then again, at the end of the day, the greatest responsibility still lies in the hands of the mother who should, above everyone else, be protecting and caring for her child. Bibliography Center for Disease Control and Prevention. [...]
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