One topic in our recent lectures that particularly caught my interest was our review of prenatal development (I know, big shock, as I’m a bio major). In this lecture we briefly spoke about fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and how it curbs the development of that unborn child. FAS is the leading PREVENTABLE cause of mental and physical birth defects in the U.S. When a mother consumes alcohol during her pregnancy it crosses the placental barrier (with ease) and is absorbed by the fetus, severely stunting central nervous system growth, and while other physical defects can occur, the damage to the developing CNS of the child is irreparable. Alcohol absorbed by the fetus stunts the proliferation, differentiation, and neuronal migration of the developing neurons, actions which are necessary for a healthy nervous system. Even more concerning, the fetus is not yet equipped with the enzymes necessary to detoxify the alcohol that enters its system and is present in the amniotic fluid nurturing the fetus long after its initial exposure. Studies tell us that less than 15 drinks a week is safe for normal fetal development, but with information like this I would recommend not drinking during pregnancy.
In case you were ever curious about what the physical manifestation of the disease looks like, there are a few telltale signs that a person may have FAS. The main distinguishing characteristics at a quick glance are an indistinct or smooth philtrum (the ridge between the bottom of your nose and your upper lip), a noticeably thin upper lip, and a flat nasal bridge (commonly seen as a short, upturned nose). These minor physical features are good indicators for the presence of FAS as they are not typical phenotypes expressed in any ethnicity.
Even just two generations ago mothers would smoke cigarettes during pregnancy not knowing what the effects were on their unborn child, but thanks to the availability of information and scientific study this preventable cause of malformation has be severely reduced. Perhaps in another generation the awareness for this disease will prevent women from consuming alcohol during their pregnancy all together, and FAS will be in our past.