Expecting mothers should be wary of alcohol In recognition of National Alcohol and Other Drug-Related Birth Defects Week and in celebration of Mother's Day, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) of Middlesex County Inc. would like to educate pregnant women and all potential mothers of the positive steps they can take toward having a strong and healthy baby. A few changes could make a critical difference in a baby's health. Scientific studies show that using alcohol, cigarettes, and other drugs (including over-the-counter and prescription medications) while pregnant increases a baby's risk for serious illness, birth defects, developmental problems, and even death. The sooner a pregnant woman stops drinking, smoking and using, the better her chances of having a healthy pregnancy and a strong and healthy baby. The surest way to avoid harming the baby is to stop taking all drugs, preferably before pregnancy begins. Each year, up to 40,000 babies are born with some degree of alcohol-related damage, such as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). FAS is the leading known cause of preventable mental retardation and one of the three leading causes of birth defects. According to the Institute on Medicine, between 2,000 and 12,000 babies in the U.S. are born with FAS each year. FAS occurs in up to 40 percent of the babies born to women who are alcoholics or chronic alcohol abusers. Low birth weight is the single most common cause of infant death and disease. Pregnant women who smoke are more likely than nonsmokers to have low birth weight babies and babies whose physical and intellectual growth is below normal. Smoking is also a major cause of miscarriages, complications during pregnancy, and premature deliveries. Recent research studies report that drug-exposed infants may develop poorly because of stress and chaos caused by the mother's drug use. These children experience double jeopardy. They often suffer from biological vulnerability due to prenatal drug exposure, which then may be exacerbated by poor caretaking and multiple separations due to the drug user's lifestyle. For additional information, call NCADD at (732) 254-3344. Dena Charbonneau Prevention Educator NCADD of Middlesex County, Inc.