Well, nay-sayers, prepare to be proven wrong. All of you snarky mamas who glared at me nursing my 3 1/2-year-old on the NYC subway, prepare to be amazed. And to all of my family and friends who wanted to chastise me about nursing a walking, talking, thinking, laughing little man named Fred, thanks for holding your tongues. Because we did it.
Fetal Alcohol Effects: FASDs. Traditionally, alcohol birth defects and other problems caused by a mother drinking while pregnant were broadly grouped under the term âfetal alcohol effects.â Today, the range of problems that impact babies born under these conditions are referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs).
Alcohol crosses the placenta to the baby during pregnancy. It can cause problems such as bleeding, miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth. Babies born to women who are heavily dependent on alcohol can suffer withdrawal symptoms after birth and may be born with fetal alcohol syndrome.