Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD) affects babies who were born to mothers that drank alcohol (even moderately) during pregnancy. The alcohol prevents the fetus from being able to get enough oxygen and nourishment for normal cell development. This can cause pregnancy complications and physical and mental complications for the baby once she is born.
Infants affected with FASD have a higher mortality rate, and children who grow up with FASD are often affected with learning and behavioral problems. In more extreme cases, they may even be affected with physical abnormalities and mental disabilities.
Unfortunately, FASD is a life-long condition without a cure, so the only way to prevent it is by avoiding alcohol during pregnancy. In addition, many babies with FASD are adopted each year by caring individuals willing to provide special care to these children if necessary.
In this video, adoptive mothers tell their stories about FASD. Mothers search for a diagnosis to understand the treatment of children diagnosed with FASD, and a medical specialist discusses some of the statistics of prenatal consumption of alcohol.
