Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause a group of conditions known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), which can result in lifelong medical, behavioral, and educational challenges.
Alcohol can harm your baby at any stage during a pregnancy, including the earliest stages before you even know you are pregnant. Children born with FASDs can have a mix of problems, the severity of which depends on the specific type of disorder. These problems may include:
- Abnormal facial features, such as a smooth ridge between the nose and upper lip
- Small head size
- Shorter-than-average height
- Low body weight
- Poor coordination
- Hyperactive behavior
- Difficulty with attention and memory
- Learning disabilities and difficulty in school
- Speech and language delays
- Intellectual disability or low IQ
- Poor reasoning and judgment skills
- Sleep and sucking problems as a baby
- Vision or hearing problems
- Problems with the heart, kidneys, or bones
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is the most serious type of FASD. People with FAS have facial abnormalities, including wide-set and narrow eyes, growth problems, and nervous system abnormalities.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosing FASD can be hard because there is no medical test, like a blood test, for it. The health care provider will make a diagnosis by looking at the child's signs and symptoms and asking whether the mother drank alcohol during pregnancy.
FASDs last a lifetime. There is no cure, but treatments can help. These include medicines to help with some symptoms, medical care for health problems, behavior and education therapy, and parent training. A good treatment plan is specific to the child's problems and should include close monitoring, follow-ups, and changes when needed.
Protective Factors
Certain "protective factors" can help reduce the effects of FASDs and help people reach their full potential, including:
- Diagnosis before 6 years of age
- Loving, nurturing, and stable home environment during the school years
- Absence of violence around them
- Involvement in special education and social services
There is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy. To prevent FASDs, you should not drink alcohol while you are pregnant, or when you might get pregnant.