Nearly half of Alaska women who become pregnant did not plan to have a baby. Many women don't know that even moderate drinking can do irreversible damage to a child from conception to birth, beginning well before they realize they are pregnant.
Others know the risk and want to stop drinking, but can't.
As a result, thousands of people living in Alaska today were born with lifelong, irreparable brain damage caused by alcohol exposure in the womb. More than 150 more are born each year. Some will cost the public millions of dollars in social services, hospital bills, court fees, prison expenses and foster care over the course of their lives.
This is the story of what happens to babies exposed to alcohol during pregnancy, told by four Alaska mothers who hope to help other women avoid repeating their mistakes.
Read more at the Daily News: http://www.adn.com/2014/02/22/3341313/fetal-alcohol-syndrome-four-mothers.html