Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

Drinking alcohol during a pregnancy can cause 'foetal alcohol syndrome' (FAS). 'Foetal alcohol syndrome' is a serious defect that is characterised by abnormal brain development and problems in several areas such as subtle facial abnormalities, neurological defects, growth deficiency and various psychiatric problems. 

Foetal alcohol syndrome

Everyone acknowledges that the consumption of alcohol can have negative consequences for adults. However, for a long period it was believed that alcohol could have no negative consequences for the unborn baby. People thought that the foetus was not exposed to maternal alcohol consumption. By now it has been discovered that the alcohol the mother drinks is transmitted to the foetus. This alcohol crosses the blood brain barrier of the unborn baby where it can do a lot of damage. Babies that are exposed to large quantities of alcohol during the pregnancy can have 'foetal alcohol syndrome' (FAS). It is estimated that about three in thousand babies has FAS.

Signs and symptoms of FAS

Children that have 'foetal alcohol syndrome' show abnormal brain development and encounter, more often than healthy children, various problems such as:

• Subtle facial deficiencies, such as a thin upper lip, small eye opening, a tip-tilted nose, relatively low ears and a smooth philtrum instead of a divot or groove between the nose and upper lip
• Growth deficiencies, both pre- and postnatal
• Neurological impairments, such as impaired motor skills and  a divergent tread
• Congenital anomaly to the heart, the kidneys, ears, eyes and other organs
• Learning disabilities and other cognitive damage
• Various psychiatric disorders, amongst which ADHD, ODD and 'conduct disorder'

The amount of alcohol, the frequency, the timing of alcohol consumption during pregnancy (the foetus is extra susceptible during critical periods), and the age and health of the mother determine the specific effects. The more alcohol the mother drinks during the pregnancy, the larger the chances are that the child will be damaged. Currently it is not yet known how much alcohol mothers can drink safely, even though it has been determined that just one glass of spirit or five glasses of wine can be harmful already. Besides that, not all signs are visible in all children, but the problems can be lasting and have a large impact on the daily functioning of the child.

Treatment of 'foetal alcohol syndrome'

There is no cure for foetal alcohol syndrome. 'Foetal alcohol syndrome' can be prevented, though, through abstinence from alcohol during pregnancy. When you drink while you are pregnant, your unborn baby shares your drink with you! When 'foetal alcohol syndrome' is diagnosed, early diagnostics are of the utmost importance so one can get support with raising, education and medical care.

Sources: www.todio.nl