Effects of Maternal Drug and Alcohol Use?

Question by PurrfectPeach13232: Effects of maternal drug and alcohol use?
My mother (who passed away several years ago) used alcohol, cocaine, and possibly other drugs while pregnant with me. I have no idea how much, except that I was not born addicted to anything.

I was not born premature but I did have a slightly low birthweight (5.6 oz, cutoff for “low” is 5.8) and suffered from initial failure to thrive due to a “hole in my heart” which was cured with medication. I have been completely healthy since – I do not have a heart murmur and an echocardiogram I got a few years ago was totally normal.

I actually, if anything, seem to have an above-average immune system.
I do not show the physical signs (widely spaced eyes, etc.) of FAS. At 15 I was given a standard IQ test (not sure which one…a bunch of questions and some puzzles) by a psychologist and the result was an IQ of 139.

This is my question – did I somehow escape all the effects of the drugs and alcohol unscathed, or have I been cheated from being, instead of in the top 2%, in the top .02%? Or are there other effects besides physical or mental, could my personality or emotional stability have been compromised?

Best answer:

Answer by On A Journey
This is one area we’re still trying to learn more about because it’s so complex.
Recent FASD literature is looking at things beyond the physical features and also looking at behaviours, etc. It is now seen to be on a spectrum, as opposed to either having FAS/E or not. I’ve worked with children who have been diagnosed with FASD, but are actually *extremely* intelligent. I haven’t done much reading on it in the last year or two, but there is definitely still lots we don’t know about how drugs/alcohol impact people over the lifespan. Sounds like you are definitely one of the lucky ones!

Answer by Shey
It’s possible but these things would probably be caused more by the environment in which you grew up rather than the drug itself, but it’s difficult to know. Be happy you escaped disaster. Read about another girl who was not so lucky below; it’s a true story. Best wishes.

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