This week's assignment is centered around a male infant by the name of Sam. Personally there are several things I feel that are not in …show more content…
I recently stated that alcohol and most drugs cross the placenta and affect the fetus. Alcohol use during pregnancy has been found to be the leading preventable cause of mental disabilities in children in the United States (Maier & West, 2001). Excessive maternal drinking while pregnant can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) with life-long consequences for the child, ranging in severity from minor to major. According to the study, Sam is a fussy eater that requires short and frequent feedings. He has been home for two weeks and wakes up hungry every two hours and also doesn't sleep through the night. Personally this does not show that there is something wrong with the child. He was in the hospital for 72 hours, which is 3 days, that is the expected time especially for the mother and the child to progress. It's normal for infants to eat every two hours and unable to sleep through the night. Infants have to get used to being in the works and grasping the fine and motor skills for …show more content…
Physically, children with FASD may have a small head size and abnormal facial features. Cognitively, these children may have poor judgment, poor impulse control, higher rates of ADHD and learning issues, and lower IQ scores. These developmental problems and delays persist into adulthood (Streissguth et al., 2004). All the scientific studies show all the common actions that may take place, but for now the baby seems to be moving at a normal pace. His Apgar score at one minute was five after receiving oxygen, his Apgar score at five minutes was eight. It is said that a baby who scores an 8 or above on the test is generally considered in good health. Because a baby has a lower score doesn't mean that a baby is unhealthy or abnormal. It might just mean that a baby needs some special immediate care, such as suctioning of the airways or oxygen to help the baby breathe, after which the baby