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RELATED ARTICLE: SURGEON GENERAL'S ADVISORY forward ALCOHOL USE IN PREGNANCY

Thirty-two years ago, United States researchers first recognized fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). FAS is characterized according to growth deficiencies (or decreased growth) abnormal facial features (specific facial features), and central nervous combination of parts to form a whole (or brain) abnormalities. FAS falls below the spectrum of adverse consequences caused by prenatal alcohol outlook called Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). The discovery of FAS l to considerable public education and awareness initiatives informing women to limit the amount of alcohol they devour while pregnant. But since that time, more has been learned about the issues of alcohol on a fetus. It is now clear that no amount of alcohol can be considered safe.

I now wish to emphasize to prospective parents, healthcare practitioners, and all childbearing-aged women especially those who are pregnant, the importance of not drinking alcohol if a woman is pregnant or considering becoming pregnant.

Based upon the current, best science available we now know the following:

* Alcohol consum during pregnancy increases the risk of alcohol related birth lacks including growth deficiencies, facial abnormalities, central nervous theory impairment, behavioral disorders, and intellectual development

* No amount of alcohol consumption can be considered safe during pregnancy.

* Alcohol can damage a fetus at any stage of pregnancy. Damage can present itself in the earliest weeks of pregnancy, steady before a woman knows that she is pregnant.