Producing beer and other alcohol was a pillar of many ancient cultures. In the 21st century we have labels on alcohol warning that it will cause birth defects if consumed while pregnant, but of course those didn't always exist. Was there widespread fetal alcohol syndrome in ancient cultures? If not, when/how did we learn to not drink while pregnant?
I got a friend who said she "fought for her kids autism diagnoses", but then I remembered she drank while she was pregnant with them and smoked, you could say the kids do have some facial features of FAS. Any amount of alcohol consumed during pregnancy can cause FAS. I'm not a doctor but this thought entered my mind after hearing her say that.
I wonder if a fraction of the increased diagnosis of autism isn't in part caused by some parents who are willing to go to great lengths to "fight for" autism diagnosis over considering they're potentially responsible for the kid having FAS. Not saying my friends doing this, I just had a thought.
I know that I wouldn't do as good a job raising kids as I'd ideally like to, I couldn't say for certain I'd stop smoking during pregnancy... so it's just basically boiled down to being another reason why I'm childfree.
Thanks childfree community for letting me share my thoughts in this small space for childfree people.
I know people who are healthcare workers and doctors would know more about this than I would so I invite and welcome all opinions and feedback just please be respectful and not rude, to the haters- after all it's just a thought and you are not on thought police payroll.... mmmkay
My FASD story
So I thought I would tell you my story. To bring awareness to this disability. I used to be embarrassed about having it. I’m sorry for the misspelled words 😅
I was first diagnosed with severe learning disability when I was 7 years old. I also had vision problems. I struggled through school even though I had an IEP and later went to a private school. It wasn’t until I was an adult that my mom admitted to not knowing she was pregnant for a lot of the time and drinking during that time. It made sense as I fit many of the symptoms of FASD. So I went to my doctor who referred me to a Neurologist doctor who confirmed it. Today I am mostly happy. I work. Have a great family and live my best life. It’s not always easy but I like who I am.
In the last 50 years, science discovered that alcohol consumed by pregnant women, sometimes as little as one glass of wine, can alter the development of the brain and body of an embryo and lead to a fetal alcohol syndrome. However, in medieval times in Europe, the water was so dirty that the people often had to drink (diluted) beer and other alcoholic beverages, including pregnant women in lack of better knowledge (and better water!). Even though the beer was much less potent than nowadays, i believe a constant consumption of alcohol must lead to the FAS, at least to some extent. However, I’ve found nothing about this topic. So my question is: did a large portion of the population in this time have FAS? If so, how might the cognitive problems that come with this syndrome have influenced the society as a whole, when such a large portion of the population had it (this second question is purely speculative)?
The evidence is compelling
Source: medical experts, who just so happen to also be lawyers, economists, advertisers, TV executives, wrestling promoters, and just about every other high level job you can think of.
I’m a 30 year old male 5’7 180 lbs.
I was adopted at birth but was told as child I had FAS. I have a flat philtrum and had some of the other symptoms growing up. Hyperactivity, poor short-term memory and speech issues etc. I just happened to look up some stuff about it today and the life expectancy is around 31-34 or so. So as you can see, I’m close to that age. Should I be concerned? I was able to finish school and college and hold a steady job which is apparently difficult for some with FAS. My understanding is that it is actually a spectrum and that I may not have full blown FAS. I don’t have any other remarkable medical history. I’m just concerned I’m going to spontaneously kick the bucket in the next 3 years.
Okay, hear me out: An AK with a HK SL8 stock, a binary trigger, set up for a lefthanded shooter and chambered in .32 S&W with a 20 inch barrel.....
I’m so confused how every baby in the medieval ages, the renaissance, the pre-modern world in general didn’t end up with fetal alcohol syndrome. Or do we know, was it more prevalent back then? I just feel like alcohol was so central in culture (of Europe at least) before the 20th century, and obviously we didn’t know as much about pregnancy and medical stuff in general.
What is Fetal Alcohol syndrome (FAS)?
Fetal Alcohol syndrome is caused when a fetus is exposed to alcohol during the pregnancy. It causes damage to both growth and brain development.
Characteristics of the syndrome include distinct and unique facial features, a short stature, low weight at birth and continued low growth, as well as issues with coordination, learning and development.
What gene changes cause Fetal Alcohol syndrome (FAS)?
The syndrome is caused by exposure to the fetus to alcohol during pregnancy. The effects are irreversible and may vary in their severity.
Environmental causes, or exposure to external environmental factors, can sometimes contribute to the cause of a rare disease.
To learn more, https://fdna.health/syndromes/fetal-alcohol-syndrome-fas/
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a group of physical and mental birth defects that can result in children when a mother consumes alcohol during pregnancy. Google tells me that disorder wasn't officially recognized by medical community until 1973.
Without this knowledge, would historical rates of FAS be far more common? Obviously its hard to assemble non existent, historical medical data. But were there medical or cultural prohibitions against pregnant women drinking? Since FAS often manifests in signature physical defects, do historical accounts include common descriptions (or depictions) of individuals with these traits? Are there any prominent historical figures who may have had FAS?
I would also be curious to hear about the practices of pregnancy and alcohol from other periods and regions!
I knew a guy who has fetal alcohol syndrome. Long story short his life is fucked. He had growth problems, bone and join deformities, his face looks bad, and extreme learning disabilities.
Why does the mother serve no punishment for this? This is on the scale of attempted murder technically, this is how much she fucked up his persons life.
I understand your body your rules, but when it affects the baby after birth, shouldn’t there be rules?
The evidence is compelling
After all, I'm not a baby.
