How drinking alcohol during pregnancy affects the baby: Learn about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

Are you a mother-to-be? Or are you planning to add a new member to the family? Then this article will be very important for you. We all know that everything a mother does during pregnancy affects the baby in the womb. Especially drinking alcohol can cause unimaginable harm to the baby in the womb. Today we are talking about the most serious situation that can happen like this.

What exactly is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)?

Simply put, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is the most serious condition that can occur in a baby at birth due to the mother drinking alcohol during pregnancy. It is not actually just one condition, but the most severe of a group of conditions known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs).

Several other conditions fall into this category of FASDs:

• Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: In this case, the baby shows some of the symptoms associated with FAS, but does not have all of the full symptoms.
• Alcohol-related Birth Defects: In this case, alcohol can cause birth defects in the baby's organs such as the heart, kidneys, and bones.
• Alcohol-related Neurodevelopmental Disorder: Here, although there are no major changes to the child's face, problems related to the development of the brain and nervous system (learning disabilities, behavioral problems) are seen.
• Neurobehavioral Disorder Associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure: This affects the child's ability to think and reason, self-control, and ability to form social relationships .

These conditions vary from child to child. Some children may have very mild symptoms, while others may be severely affected. The sad thing is, these symptoms are likely to get worse as the child grows.

What is the reason for this situation?

The only and most direct cause of this is the mother's consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. It can be wine, beer, arrack, rum... any type of alcohol.

Just think, the body of a small child in the womb is not yet fully developed. In particular, their liver is not able to process and remove alcohol like an adult. So when the mother drinks alcohol, that alcohol goes into the child's body without any hindrance, causing severe damage to the developing brain, heart, and all other organs.

Many people think that the risk is only in the first few months. It is true that the baby's brain is developing rapidly in the first three months of pregnancy, so drinking alcohol during that time is the most harmful. But that doesn't mean that other periods are safe. The baby's brain continues to develop in the second and third trimesters. So even a small amount of alcohol consumed during that time is enough to hinder the baby's development.

What are the symptoms of a child with FAS?

The symptoms of FAS are very broad, and for convenience, we will break them down into several categories.

How does a doctor diagnose this condition?

There is no specific blood test or scan that can confirm FAS. Also, the symptoms are often similar to other conditions such as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), making it a bit more difficult to diagnose.

A doctor considers several factors to diagnose this condition:

• Unusual features on the child's face.
• Loss of height and weight for age.
• Small head size.
• Problems with attention and hyperactivity.
• Weaknesses in body coordination.
• The most important thing is to find out whether the mother drank alcohol during pregnancy, and if so, how much.

What are the treatments for FAS?

As we mentioned earlier, FAS cannot be completely cured because the damage caused by alcohol cannot be reversed. However, targeted treatment for the child's specific symptoms can make their life much easier.

There are several treatment methods:

• Medication: There is no specific medication for FAS. However, your doctor may prescribe certain medications (e.g., stimulants, antidepressants) to help manage symptoms such as hyperactivity, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, or depression.
• Therapeutic treatments: These are very important.
• Speech Therapy: For speech problems.
• Occupational Therapy: To perform daily tasks and develop skills.
• Physical Therapy: For balance and coordination of the body.
• Behavioral and Educational Support: Special education services help with learning disabilities and behavioral problems.
• Parent training: Parents are provided with special training on how to deal with a child with FAS and how to control their behavior.
• Social skills training: Teaches the child to work together with others, share, and make friends.

All of these treatments must be tailored to the child's needs, so it's important to talk to your doctor about this regularly.

How can this dangerous situation be avoided?

This is the most important and satisfying part of this article. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a condition that is 100% preventable. There is only one thing to do.

That is, completely abstaining from alcohol during pregnancy.

• If you have a problem with alcohol or an addiction, seek medical advice and treatment before becoming pregnant .
• If you are planning to have a child, stop drinking alcohol from the time you are planning to have one .
• As soon as you find out you are pregnant, or suspect you are, stop drinking alcohol immediately .
• If you are sexually active and not using birth control, it is wise to consider stopping drinking alcohol completely, as you could be pregnant without even knowing it.

Pregnancy, alcohol, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, FAS, baby's health, birth defects, alcohol consumption during pregnancy