Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

I think it is a given, that we all know drinking while pregnant is a very reckless thing to do. It is a fact! When you drink, your baby drinks. If you drink while you are pregnant you are running the risk of passing on a horrible condition to your infant. The disorder is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Fetal alcohol syndrome is not one disease or disorder, but a group of birth defects that includes physical, and mental defects. The child is very likely to experience behavioral problems.

In the United States, approximately 12,000 children are born each year with defects related to fetal alcohol syndrome. It isn't known just how much alcohol the mother has to drink to cause FAS, that is why if you are pregnant or thinking of getting pregnant, you should stop drinking alcohol completely. Don't be fooled into thinking this one drink won't hurt the baby. Alcohol passes through the placenta from you to your baby. When you drink your baby drinks also.

I worked in the new born nursery for many years, and from time to time a baby would be born with FAS. It is a sad sight. When the mothers habitually drank during their pregnancy, their baby drank also. The baby built up a tolerance to alcohol just like the mother did. When the baby is born the alcohol stops being infused into the baby through the umbilical cord. It is not a pretty site to see these babies suffer in withdrawal. These babies were addicted to alcohol.

What are the signs and symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome?

Fetal alcohol syndrome is not a single disorder or birth defect, but several combined into a cluster. The signs and symptoms may vary from baby to baby. This is not just a problem with babies. These babies grow up to be adults with these same problems. Many of these children and adults have learning and behavioral problems. Many children have grown up to have substance abuse problems for themselves, as well as problems with the law.

Some of the signs and symptoms of FAS are subtle. The facial features of a child with fetal alcohol syndrome may be different from the features of a child without this problem. It would take the trained eye of the physician to tell a healthy child from a child with defects related to FAS. There are usually anomalies involving the features of the eyes, eyelids, nose, lips and mouth of the child with fetal alcohol syndrome. Some children have abnormally small teeth with an enamel problem. Some children have heart defects, and bone and joint deformities.

Some children are born with a failure to thrive. They just don't grow, and they don't want to eat. Some babies don't have a good sucking reflex, or just get tired and quit eating. The list of defects goes on to problems with eyesight as well as mental retardation. I have seen a few babies born with a tiny head and no brain. They may have a very small brain or just a brain stem. These babies usually die shortly after birth.
Some children suffer from short attention spans, hyperactivity and anxiety; they are diagnosed with such conditions as alcohol-related neurodevelopment disorder (ARND), as well as alcohol-related birth defects (ARBDs) because the physical defects that are directly related to the fetus being subjected to the ingestion of alcohol.

What causes fetal alcohol syndrome?

Alcohol enters the bloodstream when an expectant mother drinks. The alcohol goes directly to the baby via the umbilical cord. It cross the placenta and is metabolized by your baby slower than it is in your own body. In fact, the baby's blood alcohol level would be higher than your own. If the mother drinks on a daily basis, the constant alcohol in the baby's blood will rob the growing child of much needed nutrients. Alcohol causes brain and organ tissue damage because it kills the cells.

If you have been drinking recently and just discovered you are pregnant, ask your doctor about the risks to your baby. If you are drinking now and you know you are pregnant, stop drinking now. The risk of birth defects are most likely in the early weeks of the first trimester, that is why many women may be drinking and not know they are even pregnant. If your doctor does not know that you are drinking, let him/her know now. It is never too late to stop. Get help for you and your unborn baby. Alcohol kills your baby's brain cells. The longer you drink the more risk to your baby. Your baby runs the risk of permanent impairment of the facial features, heart, liver, bones, and central nervous system.

Fetal alcohol syndrome cannot be diagnosed until the baby is born. The baby may be born perfectly healthy, that is what everyone hopes for. If your doctor knows how long and how much you have been drinking, your doctor can determine the risk to the baby. The baby may be at high risk or moderate risk depending on the alcohol exposure during the first weeks of pregnancy.

In some cases it may be difficult for the doctor to determine the degree of damage to the baby until he/she reaches school age. The doctors may rely on an IQ test to measure the language and cognitive development of the child. The problem the child has will follow him/her for a lifetime, because there is no cure. Some children benefit from being placed in special education classes, if they cannot keep up with the mainstream classes. Parents may have difficulty dealing with the guilt of passing this problem onto their child, and they might benefit from counseling. It does no good to feel guilty about it. What is done is done, and next thing to do is cope with it and help your child as much as possible.

How can fetal alcohol syndrome be prevented?

If you are planning to get pregnant make sure you do not drink before you ever get pregnant. If you haven't been trying to get pregnant, but you think there is a possibility that you might be pregnant, be sure to stop drinking immediately because the baby's heart and other internal organs and nervous system form in the early weeks of pregnancy. Some women decide not to drink at all during the childbearing years, whether pregnant or not, just on the chance that they should become pregnant. If you have an addiction to alcohol, use birth control until you can get help with your addiction.

If you already have a child with fetal alcohol syndrome, you may want to ask your doctor for some local support groups that you can attend. Knowing that you are not alone, can be very comforting. Your child may benefit from having a planned routine and order to his or her life. Parents may have to look out more closely for their children, because many times they are picked on or taken advantage of by other children. As parents, we need to teach all our children, including children with FAS the basic life skills so they can lead happy adjusted lives in the future.

Source: Mayo Clinic information page