Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

When a woman is pregnant, the things she eats and drinks are ingested by the fetus as well. This is the reason diet is so important for pregnant women, because they’re “eating for two,” as the old adage goes. Because the baby’s health relies on what the mother does, it’s especially important during pregnancy to stay healthy and eat and drink only what will help the baby. If you smoke, drink, or take drugs while you are pregnant, your child may develop a number of serious, life-threatening ailments while still in utero.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, or FAS, is a disorder that can occur in children while they are still in the womb. It occurs when the child’s mother continues to ingest alcohol during the pregnancy, and though it does not occur in all cases of alcohol consumption by expecting mothers, the consequences of the disease are serious enough that the US Surgeon General has recommended that women do not drink any alcohol during pregnancy.

Alcohol can permeate the placental barrier and damage the fetus in a number of ways, notably by stunting weight and development. Children who suffer from FAS often have noticeable facial deformities, reduced weight and healthiness, and impaired brain development. Nervous system damage is common, and can result in poor memory, attention deficit disorders, impulsive behavior, and other mental problems.

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Unfortunately, even if you take care of yourself perfectly during your pregnancy, your baby can still suffer harm at the hands of a negligent medical professional. If you’d like to learn more information about medical malpractice law, contact the Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. by calling 215-238-1130.