What Is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) refers to the various problems that a baby can present in the first months of life if the mother has consumed alcohol during pregnancy.
Although it has not been determined what is the minimum consumption to cause or not problems after birth, it has been proven that consuming alcohol significantly affects the health of babies also during pregnancy. This situation is known as fetal alcohol syndrome.
Why is alcohol bad for your health?
The negative consequences of alcohol consumption for adults are nothing new. Among other consequences, the consumption of this substance can cause several damages, such as: change in heart rate, uncontrolled sugar levels, dehydration and digestive problems.
When a woman is pregnant, alcohol consumption can seriously affect her baby’s health for two simple reasons. First, because the baby’s body is not able to process this substance. Second, because it doesn’t have the capacity to eliminate all its residues. That is, it stays with the waste in the body.
How can the existence of fetal alcohol syndrome be verified?
The main symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome are:
- Visual or hearing impairments.
- Development delay.
- Low birth weight and even malnutrition.
- Poor coordination of movements (perceived in the long term).
- Improper growth (both before and after birth).
Most babies who suffer from this problem have facial malformations. The hallmarks of this disorder are:
- Wide, flat face.
- Small perimeter of the skull.
- Ear malformations.
- Wide and very low nasal bridge.
- Small eyes and epicanthic folds.
- Narrow eyelid slits in the eyes.
Diagnosis and treatment
Of course, fetal alcohol syndrome must be diagnosed by a healthcare professional. For the diagnosis, the doctor will make some observations that, added to the mother’s testimony about her behavior during pregnancy, will allow an answer to be reached.
The first observation is the facial features, as it is usually the most common trait in children with this problem. If the baby has any of the anomalies described above, it could be an indicator of fetal alcohol syndrome.
Second, the doctor will assess the baby’s growth parameters. Those who suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome often have developmental delays, as well as difficulties in coordinating movements and even sensory impairments. This is due to the fact that FAS directly affects the central nervous system.
And mainly, ultimately, the doctor will order more specific tests to assess the baby’s CNS (central nervous system). In this way, you will be able to analyze the structure (size and shape), the neurological functioning and the possible deficiencies that the baby may present.
Prevention as the best form of treatment
As we mentioned earlier, it has not been precisely determined what is the maximum amount of alcohol that a pregnant woman can drink without harming her baby. Therefore, the ideal is to avoid its consumption, especially in the first months of pregnancy.
In cases where the mother-to-be has difficulty in suspending consumption or even presents symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, the ideal is to seek professional help as soon as possible. In addition, the accompaniment and help of family members becomes essential in these situations.
At the same time, it is also important that the father refrain from consuming this substance when the couple is trying to get pregnant.
On the one hand, because it will support the mother who cannot consume alcohol. And, on the other hand, because it is believed that alcohol consumption by the father can also affect the health of the future baby. Anyway, it is still a topic that is being researched.
Finally, it should be noted that the consumption of alcohol is completely discouraged by physicians around the world. Regardless of the amount ingested.
It is essential to always keep in mind that what may be a simple appetizer for the mother can prove to be an extremely toxic substance for the fetus.
