The Sobriety :60 - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

There's a baby born every four and a half minutes with some degree of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Right here... in one of the most educated, media-connected countries in the world.  Episode #9 - Alcohol and FASD, can be found at http://youtu.be/7qIw9bhsFpo

Visit alcohologist.com for a replay of the Bringing Inspiration To Earth show feature with Scott Stevens. Lucy Pireel's "All That's Written" included a feature on Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud called "When alcohol doesn't work for you anymore."  Details on the third literary award for Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud also can be found on www.alcohologist.com, plus an interview with Scott Stevens on Health Media Now and one at Christoph Fisher Books.  Mr. Fisher is an acclaimed international author from the UK, among his works is the Alzheimer's book "Time to Let Go."  

Four myths about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder endanger babies

Sept. 9, the ninth day of the ninth month, is the annual observance of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) to emphasize the critical nine months of pregnancy. FASDs are now more common than autism, and one child is born with one in the range of FASDs every 4.5 minutes. The most common is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. (For characteristics of FASD, see related article)

The unborn use the same blood and therefore have the same blood alcohol concentration (BAC) as the mother. The fetus lacks the ability to process the alcohol the way an adult does, so the BAC remains high for a long time, causing a number of physical, cognitive, social and neurological problems in the infant that are permanent and irreversible. And sometimes fatal.

Myth 1: I’m not alcoholic, so my baby is safe.
The developing baby doesn’t know the difference: Alcohol is alcohol. Developmental and physical problems can be caused by any amount of alcohol, any time during the pregnancy. There’s particular interest in early-pregnancy drinking, as well as the relationship between greater amounts of alcohol increasing the probability of a fetal disorder. However, an expectant mother doesn’t need to have the disease of alcoholism to cause trouble for the fetus.

Any amount of alcohol – even so called social drinking – risks infant development because alcohol is a toxin. The byproduct of alcohol metabolism, specifically acetaldehyde, is 30 times more toxic and any quantity can be responsible for physical deformities.

Myth 2: It’s the mom’s fault.
It’s the alcohol’s fault. Research published in Animal Cells and Systems suggests the father's drinking also may contribute to FAS.

The Korean study exposed male rodents to varying concentrations of alcohol prior to mating. Some of the fetuses they helped conceive suffered abnormal organ development and/or brain development. The offspring of the “sober” male mice in the study showed no abnormalities. The study authors concluded that alcohol consumption, not necessarily heavy use or the disease of alcoholism, affects genes in sperm which are responsible for normal fetal development.

The study subjects were exposed to alcohol for only seven weeks (see related examiner.com article).

Myth 3: I quit drinking before I got pregnant, so no worries, right?
Naturally, there is heightened interest in alcohol consumption after conception. A study of 1,107 first-time mothers released in April 15 by Australia's University of New South Wales found an increased risk of low birth weight even if the mother was treated for an alcohol use disorder 12 months before conception. This is the first study connecting problems with newborns with drinking alcohol prior to conception.

Low birth weight is one of four FASD diagnostic criteria used by medical professionals:
• Abnormal facial features (smooth ridge between nose and upper lip)
• Lower-than-average height, weight, or both
• Central nervous system problems (small head size, problems later in life with attention and hyperactivity, poor coordination)
• Prenatal alcohol exposure; although confirmation is not required to make a diagnosis

Alcohol causes lasting changes in a mother’s DNA, which explains the problems in the babies of chronic drinkers even long after the drinking ceased.

Myth 4: I can drink again once the baby arrives.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA … which started FASD Awareness Day on 9/9/99) notes that protecting babies from alcohol goes beyond pregnancy. "When a woman uses alcohol, her baby does, too. That’s why abstaining from drinking throughout pregnancy and during breastfeeding is the best gift a mother can give her child—it’s a gift that lasts a lifetime."
(see full article)
www.alcohologist.com

Visit alcohologist.com for a replay of the Bringing Inspiration To Earth show feature with Scott Stevens. Lucy Pireel's "All That's Written" included a feature on Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud called "When alcohol doesn't work for you anymore."  Details on the third literary award for Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud also can be found on www.alcohologist.com, plus an interview with Scott Stevens on Health Media Now and one at Christoph Fisher Books.  Mr. Fisher is an acclaimed international author from the UK, among his works is the Alzheimer's book "Time to Let Go."  

Dad's alcohol use before conception may cause fetal alcohol syndrome

Expectant mothers' alcohol use during pregnancy is a known cause of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). FAS is one of a range of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). FAS children can suffer physical deformities, reduced intellect, stunted growth, nervous system abnormalities, social problems and isolation. A new study published in Animal Cells and Systems suggests the father's drinking also may contribute to FAS.

The Korean study exposed male rodents to varying concentrations of alcohol prior to mating. Some of the fetuses they helped conceive suffered abnormal organ development and/or brain development. The offspring of the “sober” male mice in the study showed no abnormalities.

The study authors concluded that alcohol consumption, not necessarily heavy use or the disease of alcoholism, affects genes in sperm which are responsible for normal fetal development.

The study mice were exposed to alcohol for only seven weeks, then were given no alcohol for a week before mating. None of the female mice had been exposed to alcohol. The number of embryos per mouse was counted and embryo body weights measured. The study’s authors found “severe fetal abnormalities,” including a disorder called exencephaly, where the brain is located outside the skull. The researchers said the incidence of developmental abnormalities by alcohol use was “statistically significant.”

They concluded that paternal alcohol exposure prior to conception causes developmental defects in the next generation. Transgenerational toxicity — a health effect that occurs when a pollutant or toxic substance passes from a parent to a child — caused by paternal alcohol exposure “is possibly mediated through alcohol-induced changes in sperm” at the DNA level.

Until now fathers have not had a causal link to FAS. According to the researchers, this study provides the first definitive evidence that fathers’ drinking habits, pre-conception, can cause significant fetal abnormalities.

As many as 40,000 babies are born with an FASD annually, costing the U.S. up to $6 billion annually in institutional and medical costs. Costs of FAS alone are estimated at between 1 and 5 million dollars per child. (See related examiner.com article) This estimate does not include the cost to society, such as lost productivity or incarceration, nor does it factor in the burden on families and poor quality of life. FAS, the most recognized condition among FASDs, now outranks Down syndrome and autism in prevalence. A child is born with an FASD every 4 1/2 minutes.
(from examiner.com, see full article)
www.alcohologist.com

Scroll down for the replay of the Dr. Jeanette Gallagher show feature with Scott Stevens. Lucy Pireel's "All That's Written" included a feature on Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud called "When alcohol doesn't work for you anymore."  Details on the third literary award for Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud can be found on www.alcohologist.com, plus the interview with Scott Stevens at Christoph Fisher Books.  Mr. Fisher is an acclaimed international historical fiction novelist from the UK. 

FASD Awareness Day 9/ 9: Fetal alcohol syndrome more common than autism

The date 9/9 is a reminder to women who are or may be pregnant that during the nine months of pregnancy, there are significant and life-long risks due to alcohol for the child they carry. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has enhanced its message about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) each year since the 9/9/99 observance of FASD Awareness Day.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), the most recognized condition in the spectrum, now outranks Down syndrome and autism in prevalence. A child is born with FASD every 4 1/2 minutes.

According to SAMHSA, women with the disease of alcoholism are not the only ones risking fetal development: Even infrequent social drinking is dangerous. "There is no known safe level of alcohol use in pregnancy." 

When an expecting mother drinks, the alcohol is passed directly to the fetus. The unborn will have the same blood alcohol concentration (BAC) as the mother, but lacks the ability to process the alcohol the way an adult does, so the BAC remains high for a long time. The alcohol causes a number of physical, cognitive, social and neurological problems in the infant that are permanent and irreversible. Alcohol also can kill a fetus.

FASD is a broad category conditions including FAS, alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder and alcohol-related birth defects. In the United States, about 130,000 pregnant women each year drink at levels shown to increase the risk of having a child with an FASD, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As many as 40,000 babies are born with an FASD annually, costing the U.S. up to $6 billion annually in institutional and medical costs. Costs of FAS alone are estimated at between 1 and 5 million dollars per child. This estimate does not include cost to society, such as lost productivity or incarceration, nor does it factor in the burden on families and poor quality of life.

Physical deformities (facial abnormalities, fused joints, organ problems) are one of the more obvious consequences of prenatal exposure to alcohol. However, the development of the brain is of particular concern. The brains of FASD babies are measurably smaller than otherwise healthy babies. Resulting impairments may include:
• Mental retardation
• Learning disabilities
• Attention deficits
• Hyperactivity
• Problems with impulse control, language, memory, and social skills

The brain and nervous system are among the first to develop, beginning around week three of pregnancy when some women may not even realize they're expecting. In the U.S. 1 in 2 adult women reports any alcohol use in the past month: Some women might not even know if they're pregnant 30 days after conception. For those who know they're pregnant, SAMHSA's stats are cause for concern. One in 30 pregnant women drinks at levels shown to increase the risk of FASD and more than 20 percent of pregnant women report alcohol use in the first trimester. The latter number drops to five percent in the third trimester.

A 2004 University of Washington study found that children born with FASD have a lifetime of difficulties. More than 90 percent had mental health problems, 83 percent experienced dependent living into adulthood, 80 percent had employment problems as adults., 6 in ten of those age 12 and older had trouble with the law and more than a third had had alcohol and drug problems.
SAMHSA notes that protecting babies from alcohol goes beyond pregnancy. "When a woman uses alcohol, her baby does, too. That’s why abstaining from drinking throughout pregnancy and during breastfeeding is the best gift a mother can give her child—it’s a gift that lasts a lifetime."

FAS, a diagnosis that first gained national attention in 1973, has four major components:
• A characteristic pattern of facial abnormalities (small eye openings, indistinct or flat philtrum between nose and mouth, thin upper lip)
• Growth deficiencies, such as low birth weight
• Brain damage, such as small skull at birth, structural defects and neurologic signs, including impaired fine motor skills, poor eye-hand coordination and tremors
• Maternal alcohol use during pregnancy

The SAMSHA message is abrupt, but clear. "FASD is 100 percent preventable. If you get pregnant, don't drink. If you drink, don't get pregnant."
-- from examiner.com 9/7
www.alcohologist.com