Search Results for: blog at least 3 reasons not to drink while pregnant

Misdiagnosis!– or, How Much Harm Can a Bad Snapshot Really Do?

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This is the fifth blog continuing our family’s saga of considering whether to adopt our daughter’s biological sister, who was exposed to alcohol in utero. In looking for evidence of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, doctors a few years ago commonly examined photographs looking at the eye size and shape, the “flatness” of the face, the nasal bridge. At one point I was told that “almond-shaped eyes and a flat nasal bridge are indicators for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome”. Hello?! !? The child is Korean, remember? She’s supposed to have almond-shaped eyes and a flat nasal bridge! Am I in the 21st century … Continue reading →

A Perilous Path to a Prognosis

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There are some weird twists and turns to the following story. (This is the fourth blog in the most personal series I’ve ever written—the agony of learning our daughter’s birth sister had suffered significant prenatal alcohol exposure , then our subsequent confusion, then our search for a diagnosis. ) I need to begin by stating that 1) this was several years ago, research on fetal alcohol exposure was fairly new and is changing all the time and 2) I was talking with several specialists and reading a lot of information and it is possible I misunderstood some things or mixed … Continue reading →

Path to a Prognosis—Part One

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This is the third part of my story of the One Thing I Said I’d Never Do,namely, adopting a child with known prenatal alcohol exposure. We were stunned to learn that our daughter’s biological sister had been heavily exposed (find this second blog here). The baby in question being Meg’s sister complicated things considerably. How could we not at least consider it? We sent Regina’s medical record, measurements, and photos to the adoption and fetal medicine clinics at our local university medical center, which happens to be the university where much of the initial identification of and research on Fetal … Continue reading →

Understanding and Strengthening Language Comprehension

Both of our children have weaknesses in language comprehension. There are a lot of similarities in their lack of skill in speaking and understanding words and their meanings. Each boy displays limitations in perception and the ability to express themselves through speech. Randy has been officially diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome along with ADHD, impulse disorder (a piggyback disorder of ADHD), and other learning disabilities. Because Daniel displayed no tendencies of violent or irrational behavior, he was not examined for any mental disorders before the boys came to live with us. I think Daniel was overlooked in the process because … Continue reading →

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 →

Strategies for Tandem Nursing

We’ve been talking about why people might want to nurse through pregnancy and breastfeed their toddler and infant at the same time. There are numerous benefits to doing so, although the decision, is not necessarily an easy one to make. With that said, there are strategies you can implement to help make it a little easier. Setting boundaries All of my children have been over a year when I’ve gotten pregnant with the next one (or two!) With the exception of my oldest daughter (and I’ll deal with her situation in a minute), the older baby was eating solids but … 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 →