As part of its ongoing mission to prevent child abuse, the Foundation focuses on preventing sexual, emotional, and physical abuse as well as neglect. But there is yet another challenge that many consider to be child abuse in the womb—Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). To help meet this challenge, the National Exchange Club Foundation is conducting an educational awareness campaign on the seriousness of drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a leading cause of mental retardation. FAS is a cluster of birth defects that develop in infants of women who consume alcoholic beverages while pregnant. Defects include prenatal and postnatal growth deficiency, facial malformations, central nervous system dysfunction, and varying degrees of major organ malfunctions.

When mothers drink alcohol while pregnant, their babies could have Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE)—the same symptoms as FAS, however in a less severe form. FAS and FAE are a group of birth defects that have no cure. People with FAS and FAE have a range of problems as severe as being mentally retarded to less visible problems like difficulty paying attention in school.

The incidence of FAS is estimated to be one to three per 1,000 live births. It affects more than 40,000 American children each year.

There is no known safe amount of alcohol for a pregnant woman. When a woman drinks, her baby drinks because the alcohol passes directly through the placenta to the baby.

The following characteristics are commonly found in children with FAS:

• In infancy, low birth weight, irritability, feeding difficulties, sleep disturbances, alcohol withdrawal, strong startle reflex

• Growth deficiencies

• Small head

• Vision problems

• Dental abnormalities

• Hearing problems

• Craniofacial abnormalities—narrow eye slits, flat midface, low nasal ridge, loss of groove between nose and upper lip, small jaw

• Mental retardation, developmental delays

• Learning disabilities

• Neurological dysfunction—attention/memory deficit, hyperactivity

• Difficulty with abstract concepts and problem solving

• Epilepsy

• Behavioral problems

• Organ and body dysfunction—muscle problems, bone and joint problems, genital defects, heart defects, kidney defects.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is 100 percent preventable.

The Foundation worked closely with Double Arc (Applied Research & Collaboration for Children Affected with At-Risk Conditions) in developing an effective FAS campaign. Double Arc, established by the Sisters of Notre Dame, Toledo, Ohio, advocates and provides services for the prevention of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. They research the impact prenatal and environmental exposure of alcohol and other drugs has on children. Double Arc maintains a Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Diagnostic Clinic in Northwest Ohio.

The Foundation is encouraging all Exchange Clubs to call the National Headquarters Supply Department and order brochures to pass out to schools, doctors’ offices, hospitals, etc. The brochures are available for a nominal fee. More importantly, if you have a friend who is pregnant and using alcohol, please tell her about FAS.