Fetal alcohol syndrome: Symptoms, treatment, and prevention

The most severe of these disorders is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Early identification of FASD is critical for the well-being of individuals affected by prenatal alcohol exposure and their families. Early identification can maximize help in the treatment of FASD and in building supportive networks with other individuals and families impacted by FASD. Children with fetal alcohol syndrome and their families may benefit from the support of professionals and other families who have experience with this condition. Ask your healthcare professional or a social worker or mental health professional for local sources of support for children with fetal alcohol syndrome and their families. The FDA has designated specific drugs for treating the symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol in babies.

Symptoms of FASDs

It can take four to six weeks before you know you’re pregnant. During early pregnancy, the fetus is already developing rapidly. Alcohol consumption could harm the developing fetus at any time during pregnancy — especially early on in the development process. If you adopted a child or are providing foster care, you may not know if the biological mother drank alcohol while pregnant.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention

Other FASDs have fewer signs or only cause either physical or neurological symptoms. The outlook for a child with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) depends on the severity of the condition, early intervention, and ongoing support. However, early intervention and support often help improve child development. There is no “safe” amount of alcohol you can drunken baby syndrome drink during pregnancy.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

Any amount of alcohol during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome. Damage to your developing baby can happen at any point during pregnancy. All alcohol, including beer, wine, ciders and hard liquor can all cause FAS.

• For example, speech therapists can work with toddlers to help them learn to talk.
• The traits most likely to persist are a thin upper lip and a smaller head circumference.
• However, the only way to prevent FAS is to avoid drinking beverages containing alcohol during pregnancy.
• In some cities, there are clinics whose staff members have special training in diagnosing and treating children with FASDs.
• ND-PAE is the only one of the FASDs to be included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5).

In most cases, the diagnostic team will also need documentation of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. FAS is an exception to this, as the symptoms are often distinctive enough to confirm a diagnosis on their own. The cause of all FASDs is alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Alcohol in the parent’s blood passes to the fetus through the umbilical cord, exposing them to its effects as they grow.

Dealing with behavioral issues

According to many studies, alcohol use appears to be most harmful during the first three months of pregnancy. However, consumption of alcohol any time during pregnancy can be harmful, according to guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Hosts David Hill, MD, FAAP, and Joanna Parga-Belinkie, MD, FAAP, also talk with Peggy Way, whose 38-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, about communicating with compassion. In this episode Alex R. Kemper, MD, MPH, MS, FAAP, deputy editor of Pediatrics, shares a research roundup from the July issue of the journal.

• We believe that a single classification system will harmonize research efforts across the globe and accelerate progress in understanding the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of FASD.
• The alcohol affects the development of the fetus, potentially causing lifelong effects.
• Before trying any alternative therapy for FAS, parents or caregivers should speak with the child’s pediatrician or a doctor who specializes in FASDs.
• The risks of drinking during pregnancy are higher in those who do not have a usual doctor they see throughout pregnancy and those who experience frequent mental distress.
• People with FAS have better outcomes if they experience a supportive and loving environment during childhood.

• There is no lab test that can prove a child has fetal alcohol syndrome.
• This syndrome is part of a broader group of conditions called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), which can be caused by alcohol use during pregnancy.
• These are a group of conditions present at birth that can happen when a pregnant person drinks alcohol.
• If a caregiver thinks that a baby might have a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), they need to speak with a doctor or early intervention provider to find out more about possible support.
• The physical and mental conditions caused by alcohol exposure before birth are lifelong.
• You can share your concerns and ask for a referral to a doctor who specializes in FASDs for further support.

By 1977, this research facilitated NIAAA issuing the first government health advisory to limit alcohol use during pregnancy. Now, after 50 years, NIAAA continues to provide leadership and support as the largest funder of biomedical research on FASD in the United States. This exposure typically occurs when a pregnant person drinks alcohol, and it enters the fetus’s bloodstream through the umbilical cord.