Hi guys. All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring.
I am from Kenya and also am speaking English, please tell me right I wrote the following sentence: "Find and book cheap airline tickets, hotel rooms, vacations and cars, cheap tickets to china, cheap ticket china, low fare to china, cheap tickets."

Thanks :-(. Elkan.

I'm going on seven months pregnant..and I do have a glass of wine once a week usually right after a huge meal. I like wine, I'm not drinking it to get a buzz or get drunk..I dont feel guilty and it IS about moderation. My son doesnt "soak in alcohol" for days. After a glass of wine I usually consume at least two glasses of milk and a bottle of water every night before bed while I read. To each their own, and shame on any woman who does get hammered while pregnant. God Bless the families that have adopted these special needs children mentioned in the previous posts.

I was told that a glass of wine or a little beer wouldn't hurt. When drank now and then it should be ok during pregnancy. In my opinion: I would never put anything into my body, that I wouldn't want my baby to to have! Anything you put into your body eventually ends up in your baby!! I am totally AGAINST it, I think it is wrong!

My husband and I are currently raising a set of fraternal twins whose biological mom drank while pregnant. Our son has 26 of the 30 physical anomalies consistent with FAS, as well as mild mental retardation and an as-yet unspecified emotional disturbance. He has poor fine motor skills, has some difficulty with his temper/behaviors, is impulsive and often does things without thinking them through. Chronologically he is 8 yrs old, emotionally and developmentally he is between 3-6. Our daughter, his twin, has what is known as partial FAS; she has some of the physical anomalies and struggles with math (visual/spatial concept), but is nothing like her brother. She is emotionally and developmentally 8. ALL of this could have been spared these two beautiful children if their biological mother had abstained from alcohol during pregnancy. There is no safe amount. None. If you want to check some great data, you can check out faslink.org which has current information, as well as an experiment you can do in your own home involving alcohol and an egg.

These children often have secondary issues, including RAD, ODD, ADHD, ADD, PTSD, various forms of autism, tourettes syndrome. I cry when I think that most likely, these two will NOT bear children; after all, every cell in their body was damaged by alcohol to some extent and that would include the eggs and the sperm.

Education is the key and it is obvious from reading some of the comments that a lot of folks still ascribe to the "ignorance is bliss" theory. FASD is the ONLY birth defect that is 100% preventable. And it's simple really - if you are planning to get pregnant, don't drink; if you are drinking, either don't have sex or protect yourself. Because the challenge with this disorder is the fact that a lot of times, the damage is hidden.

Clearly the purpose of this vindictive post was meant to achieve a strong and negative reaction. The adoptive parents of these children face this type of ignorance on a daily basis, so you won't get the reaction you hoped for.
My child is FAR from being spoiled. Due to her FASD issues, in order for my child to be able to function, we must maintain structure and consistency at all times.
Which means strict guidelines and rules for her.
People need to educate themselves, before they comment on issues they know nothing about.
I pray for your child, that he/she and you, never have to
discover this by personal experience.
Elaine
Moderator RAD_FASD Kids.

Anonymous Says:

"Just reading through the reactions on this board shows the level of puritanical thought that has America by the balls! People keep shrieking about how sure they are that a small amount of wine causes birth defects, even when the scientific evidence does not back this up. The funny part is that these same freaks are going to be the ones to raise "little preciouses" who are spoiled, emotionally immature, and unable to effectively function in society when they are older, for the simple fact that their parents were worrying about all the wrong things!"

I am the parent of (adopted) child with FASD. My child has had 10 surgeries to repair damage caused by alcohol consumed during pregnancy and has permanent brain damage. Everyone seems to know not to drink during pregnancy, but I don't think that many know how truly serious it is. Not every child will be affected, but do you want to take the chance that yours is the one? It's Russian Roulette. Would you take a loaded gun with 1 bullet and point it at your child?
Any Doctor that gives advice that consuming any alcohol
during pregnancy is a Doctor desperately need of education.

FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders) is at EPIDEMIC proportions. It is the NUMBER ONE cause of preventable birth defects and developmental delays. For every child born with Muscular Dystrophy or HIV infection, approximately 120 are born with FASD. Children born with FASD have PERMANENT brain damage. The children may also have physical impairments. Of all the substances of abuse, including heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, alcohol has the most effect on the developing fetus. The reason being is that alcohol easily crosses the placenta to the circulatory system. Due to the baby's undeveloped liver it cannot rid itself of the alcohol as quickly as the Mother does. The fetus may soak in alcohol for days.
ELAINE THOMAS
Moderator RAD_FASD Kids
ElaineFASDMom@shaw.ca

I think Anonymous88's mom was drinking something (or smoking something) when she was pregnant. Talk about high strung and weird!