Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) – Alcohol and the Unborn Baby Tips

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome ( FAS )

Fetal Alcohol syndrome also known as FAS is the name given to the pattern of physical as well as mental defects that often develops in the fetus when the expecting mother consumes alcohol while she is pregnant. In fact this is the term given to the entire range of defects and not just one. Alcohol that is consumed by the mother can easily pass through the placenta and reach the fetus when the woman is with child. This is one of the reasons why consumption of alcohol is considered to be risky while a woman is pregnant.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Source : wikipedia

The alcohol directly affects the brain of the fetus and the risk is often high even   if small amounts of alcohol is consumed regularly, which is why there two major factors that result in fetal alcohol are frequency and the timing of alcohol consumption. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is the most extreme form in the whole spectrum of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and when the alcohol crosses the placental barrier then it can damage the brain structures and neurons in the fetus, stunt the weight or growth and also create very distinctive facial stigmata leading to various physical, behavioral as well as psychological problems.

Some of the other terms used to describe alcohol related symptoms in babies are

• Alcohol related birth defects also known as ARBD, is a condition where there are only physical defects in the baby due to exposure to alcohol as a fetus.

• Alcohol related neuro-development disorder, also known as ARND, where the behavioral and the mental problems in the baby are due to exposure to alcohol.

• Fetal alcohol effects also known as FAE, is a mild version of the severe fetal alcohol syndrome.

How does Alcohol Affect the Fetus?

When alcohol is consumed by a pregnant woman, the alcohol passes easily through the placental barrier and passed on to the fetus. However since the liver of the fetus is not well developed enough to detoxify the alcohol that is in its system now, this alcohol remains in the blood of the fetus in higher concentrations and for a long duration and this causes the ethanol in the alcohol and its breakdown product acetaldehyde to affect the organs and the brain of the fetus and the consequences of which are lifelong. Usually FAS develops when the mother drinks frequently during pregnancy and cases of binge or occasional drinking leads to ARND or FAE.

FAS Choline

Source : wikipedia

Symptoms and Signs of FAS

As mentioned earlier the signs and symptoms of FAS include growth deficiency, facial stigmata, damage of the brain structure and neurons among others. Intrauterine growth retardation also known as IUGR, and low birth weight are also noticed in babies with FAS. In most cases the babies fail to thrive after birth. As far as the craniofacial abnormalities are concerned children are born with a thin upper lip, decreased eye width, and a groove between the upper lip and nose is flat. Babies have also been born with small upper jaw, flat cheek bones, short nose, sunk nasal bridge and short palpebral fissure. The central nervous system is also damaged in case of FAS. Apart from this there is observable damage to the brain structures too which is the main cause for microcephaly. The damage to the central nervous system is the main cause for low IQ levels, delayed mental development, delay in development of skills such thinking, speech and movement. Children have also displayed poor co-ordination, learning difficulties as well as behavioral problems. In certain cases, there have been apparent problems with hearing and vision, irritability, hyperactivity, extreme anxiety states as well as short attention span. In some cases signs and symptoms also involve defects in the heart such as atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect and other birth defects such as hydrocephalus, cleft lip spina bifida and cleft palate.

Diagnosis of FAS

For diagnosis of FAS the criteria that have to be met are growth deficiency that could be prenatal or postnatal weight or height or both, presence of FAS facial features, central nervous system damage and prenatal alcohol exposure. While the alcohol intake is confirmed by having an interview with the biological mother, a qualified physician or a pediatric neuropsychologist can access the growth deficiency, facial features and the central nervous system damages.

Prevention and Management of FAS

The only way to prevent FAS is to avoid alcohol consumption while planning pregnancy or during pregnancy.  There are no cures for FAS as most of the mental and the physical abnormalities caused by FAS are irreversible, which is why a lot of importance is placed on prevention of this syndrome.
Some of the points that a pregnant woman needs to keep in mind are to abstain from alcohol and learn about the consequences of drinking. Pregnant women need to know that no amount of alcohol is acceptable when they are pregnant as it can cause all sorts of complications. Usually it has been recommended that women who are pregnant stop alcohol consumption immediately after conceiving. In cases where women are unable to stop drinking alcohol, help can be sought from support groups or rehabilitation centers.
While there is no cure for FAS as mentioned above, in certain cases an early diagnosis of FAS and treatment may improve the child’s life in certain ways.