Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a term used to describe the impact on individuals exposed to alcohol in the womb. FASD is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that cannot be cured. Individuals with FASD might have physical, developmental and neurophysical symptoms. Symptoms and severity can vary between individuals.
Unfortunately, this condition is still widely unknown. As a result, many children living with FASD do not get the diagnoses and help they need. Early diagnosis can be life-changing for people living with FASD, so it’s essential to recognize the signs and symptoms of this condition.
What is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder?
FASD is the term for a variety of alcohol-related birth defects. Caused by prenatal alcohol exposure, FASD includes birth defects, behavioral difficulties and other indicators that your child’s development has been affected by alcohol exposure.
A 2016 research review concluded: ‘Alcohol can affect any organ or system in the developing fetus’. The researchers identified 428 conditions that can co-occur with FASD.
These conditions can affect the body’s systems:
- The central nervous system
- Cardiac
- Respiratory
- Vision
- Hearing
- Circulation
- Digestion
- Musculoskeletal.
How common is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder?
FASD is thought to affect up to 1 in 20 school pupils in the US. Around 50% of pregnancies are unplanned, which increases the risk of alcohol use during early pregnancy. FASD shares symptoms with several other conditions, including autism and ADHD, so some children are likely to be misdiagnosed. It’s important to tell your healthcare provider if you consumed alcohol during pregnancy.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is the most severe condition of FASD, although the term is falling out of favor. According to medical records, it is thought to affect 1 in every 1,000 live births in the US.
A 2014 in-person assessment study found a higher incidence: 6-9 out of every 1,000 children aged 6 to 7 years. The same study identified 24-48 out of every 1,000 children as having FASD, which was higher than previous estimates.
What causes Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder?
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy puts your baby at risk of FASD. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder occurs when alcohol in the mother’s blood passes through to her unborn child. A baby can’t process alcohol well, which means the alcohol can remain in the baby’s body for an extended period. Exposure to alcohol in the womb can damage a baby’s brain and body before birth.
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can result in miscarriage and stillbirth. For babies who survive, there is a risk of FASD, which can affect the brain and physical development.
How you can prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder
FASD is an entirely preventable condition. If you don’t drink alcohol, your baby has zero risk of developing FASD. To ensure your baby can develop in a healthy way, you should abstain from drinking alcohol as soon as you decide to try for a baby. The more alcohol you consume during pregnancy, the greater your baby’s risk of suffering from severe symptoms. There is no safe amount of alcohol to drink during pregnancy; any amount of alcohol poses a risk to your child.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Symptoms and Signs
FASD includes more than 400 conditions that can co-occur.
FASD can permanently affect your baby’s:
- Balance and movement skills
- Vision and hearing
- Cognition and memory
- Concentration
- Emotional and social skills
- Impulse control
- Communication skills
- Joints, muscles, bones, and organs.
With over 400 conditions as part of FASD, it’s not surprising that the symptoms can vary between individuals. Some children might suffer more severe cases than others.
Neurobehavioral Disorder associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (ND-PAE)
ND-PAE is a type of FASD. Children with ND-PAE will face problems in three areas:
- Thinking and memory; children might forget material they have already learned
- Behaviour; severe tantrums and mood problems
- Struggles with daily activities and socializing.
Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND)
Children with ARND suffer from impulsiveness, inattentiveness and challenges with judgment. As a result of this, they struggle with poor school performance.
How is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder diagnosed?
An early diagnosis is beneficial for children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Although the damage of FASD is permanent, early intervention can help your child. Late diagnosis might leave your child with more serious challenges to overcome.
FASD is not always identified in early life; as your children grow older, you might begin to wonder whether they could have FASD. You will need to inform your doctor that your child was exposed to alcohol in the womb. Your child’s doctor will then conduct tests to rule out genetic conditions similar to FASD.
Treatment options for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder
Unfortunately, the damage caused by FASD is irreversible. There are no cures for this lifelong condition. Seeking an early diagnosis, however, can help your child. Once diagnosed, children will have access to healthcare professionals who can devise behavioral and educational strategies to help them succeed.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder with sentinel facial features
Fewer than 10% of FASD sufferers have facial features associated with the condition. FASD is much more likely to show up in other ways. Some children have sentinel facial features – signs that hint at the condition. These include:
- Epicanthal folds (skin fold in the upper eyelid)
- Thin upper lip
- Smooth philtrum (the groove between the upper lip and the nose)
- Railroad ears
- Upturned nose
- Small palpebral fissures (the openings between the eyelids)
- Flat nasal bridge.
Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS) refers to the condition in patients who meet some but not all of the criteria for FAS. For example, they might exhibit most but not all of the facial features listed above.
How common is alcohol use during pregnancy in the United States?
Alcohol use during pregnancy is alarmingly common in the US. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2018 and 2020, 13.5% of pregnant adults in the US reported drinking alcohol during pregnancy, and 5.2% of participants admitted to binge drinking during pregnancy.
How does alcohol harm the developing fetus?
If you consume alcohol when pregnant, some alcohol will pass through the placenta and reach your baby. The more alcohol you drink, the greater the risk of your baby developing FASD.
Alcohol interferes with and kills cells in the developing fetus, causing abnormal development. Alcohol reduces blood flow to the placenta, reducing oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. The toxic byproducts produced when the body processes alcohol can concentrate in your baby’s brain cells, causing damage.
Heavy drinking during pregnancy can:
- Increase the risk of miscarriage
- Negatively affect your child’s development
- Restrict your baby’s growth
- Increase the risk of stillbirth
- Increase the risk of premature labor
- Cause FASD and FAS
How early can you tell if your child has fetal alcohol syndrome?
You won’t know if your child has fetal alcohol syndrome or FASD until after the baby is born, and even then, you might have to wait a while to find out. For babies with facial abnormalities, a diagnosis might be made soon after birth. For other children, it’s not until milestones are missed and later problems arise that parents seek a diagnosis from their doctor.
If you consumed alcohol during pregnancy and you’re worried your child might be affected, the most important thing you can do is understand the signs and symptoms of FASD. If you notice any of the symptoms, take your child to the doctor for further testing.
Getting help to stop drinking
Alcohol is addictive, and giving up isn’t easy, but pregnancy is the ideal time to overcome your battles with alcohol. Your midwife is the best person to advise you on quitting alcohol. Be honest; tell your midwife how much you drink and that you’ll need help to stop. She’ll be able to find you the support you need to kick drink for good. Please don’t wait until you meet your midwife; call her as soon as you know you are pregnant and ask for help.
Although you might feel nervous about admitting to your midwife that you struggle with alcohol dependency, you shouldn’t let it prevent you. Your midwife won’t to judge you; in fact, she’ll support you to be the best mom you can be. And that starts with giving up alcohol. Your midwife will be able to refer you to services that specialize in addiction issues during pregnancy.
Is it okay to drink alcohol if I am trying to get pregnant?
Any alcohol consumed during pregnancy puts your baby at risk of developing FASD. For this reason, it is wise to avoid alcohol as soon as you start trying for a baby. Not only will this mean your baby has zero risk of FASD, but it also means you won’t spend the entire pregnancy worrying about the alcohol you consumed before you discovered you were pregnant.
What if my doctor tells me it is okay to drink during pregnancy?
Your doctor is giving outdated advice, and it’s worth highlighting this with your medical practice. As you can imagine, doctors have to be knowledgeable about a wide variety of things, so it’s an unfortunate fact of life that they occasionally hold outdated views. In the past, it was believed that a small amount of alcohol was safe during pregnancy but this is no longer the case.
No amount of alcohol is considered safe during pregnancy.
Can my child develop Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder if I drink while breastfeeding?
No, your child is only at risk of FASD if you drink alcohol during pregnancy. An occasional alcoholic drink while breastfeeding is unlikely to cause your baby any problems; regularly drinking more than the recommended limits, however, could be harmful. Excessive alcohol consumption while breastfeeding can reduce your milk supply and put your baby at risk of sleep, growth and developmental problems.
For more information, check out BellyBelly’s articles Breastfeeding And Alcohol and Alcohol And Breastfeeding – Is It Safe to Drink Alcohol?
Is there a safe time during pregnancy when you can drink alcohol?
No, there is no time during pregnancy when it is considered safe to drink alcohol. Any alcohol consumed during pregnancy puts your baby at risk of developing FASD. To ensure your baby isn’t at risk of FASD, you should abstain from alcohol as soon as you decide to start trying for a baby, right up until the birth of your child.
Your baby develops throughout the pregnancy, so there is no time when it’s considered safe to drink alcohol. Even low-alcohol drinks include alcohol and pose a risk to your unborn child.
Recommended Reading:
Alcohol And Pregnancy | The Effect On You And Baby
Drinking Alcohol While Pregnant A “Significant Public Health Concern”
Drank Alcohol Before I Knew I Was Pregnant | 9 Critical FAQ.
