Tag Archives: Alcohol Related Disorders

Behavior Characteristics: For People Affected By Prenatal Alcohol Exposure

One of the most important things parents are advised is to be firm and consistent with our children, especially when it comes to behaviors. Natural consequences, time out, and other types of discipline are all common ways parents attempt to teach children behavior boundaries. I have 4 children, and with 3 of them standard, ordinary, logical parenting approaches have been very effective. However, I also have one child who was exposed to alcohol before her birth and suffers from Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ARND) A physical disability of the brain. For this child parenting is a completely different story and … Continue reading →

Links Between Brain Differences and Behaviors in Prenatal Alcohol Affected People.

Modern medical science has made it possible to understand the structure and function of the brain. In the past, the role of brain differences in relationship to behavior was not well researched. Early articles about minimal brain disorders were met with scorn by people who believed the research was a way to excuse negative behaviors. Today, brain research is allowing us to understand that many behavioral symptoms are actually symptoms of a brain dysfunction. The new research and advanced medical tools we have today, allow us to approach our feelings about behavior very differently. Linking the role of the brain … Continue reading →

The One Reason to Never-Ever Have Even 1 Drink While Pregnant!

…She seems to have a complex pattern of behavior and cognitive abnormalities. These issues become more and more apparent as she grows up. Her behavior is inconsistent with her developmental level. For the past three and a half years, it has been blamed on her background and environment. She was, after all, an abused child who became my adopted daughter at the age of five-years-old. Her background and history was the original explanation for these behaviors and cognitive abnormalities. Her diagnosis reads like a cup of Alphabet soup! It has been one acronym upon another, stacked up like a brick … Continue reading →

At Least–3 Reasons Not To Drink While Pregnant.

We met our children in January 2003, at the time they were 5 years, and 1 year old. We were excited to be adopting siblings and both were beautiful healthy children. Even our adoption worker took a close look at the children and commented on the fact neither appeared to have any of the signs for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, FAS. FAS is the medical diagnosis for symptoms of prenatal alcohol exposure. The criteria for FAS are specific and represent the most extreme end of a continuum of effects on unborn children. We reviewed and understood what signs to look for … Continue reading →

Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder.

Medical research consistently finds the development of the brain is most sensitive to the effects of prenatal alcohol and drug exposure. An unborn baby’s brain is growing and developing the whole time his or her mother is pregnant. Alcohol exposure effects an unborn baby differently at different times depending on the timing of the exposure and the alcohol levels. No two people with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) or Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND) are the same. Two different mothers drinking similar amounts of alcohol may have children with completely different effects. Not all alcoholic mothers have baby’s with FAS or ARND, … Continue reading →

What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?

Regardless of what method of adoption a family chooses newborn, international or children from the foster care system no one can be sure, other then the birthmother, that a baby or child was not exposed prenatally to alcohol. Prenatal alcohol exposure is perhaps one of the most frightening issues adoptive parents must consider. In many cases, the effects of alcohol on the development of the brain are more damaging to an unborn baby than any other drug exposure might be. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a medical diagnosis for a set of physical and cognitive symptoms of prenatal exposure to … Continue reading →