Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Fetal alcohol syndrome occurs when someone consumes alcohol while pregnant, and the alcohol causes significant disabilities in the womb and after birth. While there is no cure, treatments are available that can improve fetal alcohol syndrome symptoms.
What Is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?
When someone who is pregnant drinks alcohol during their pregnancy, the unborn baby can be negatively affected. Alcohol causes physical, psychological, and cognitive disabilities that can interfere with a child’s growth and development.
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is the most severe of the five disorders of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). The others include:
- Partial fetal alcohol syndrome (pFAS)
- Alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND)
- A neurobehavioral disorder associated with prenatal alcohol exposure (ND-PAE)
- Alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD)
Each type of disorder has different symptoms and diagnosis criteria, and each type may require different treatment. However, they all have the same cause.
Causes Of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
FAS occurs when a woman consumes alcohol while pregnant. The severity of a pregnant person’s drinking patterns influences the severity of a child’s fetal alcohol syndrome symptoms. However, any consumption of alcohol during any stage of pregnancy can adversely affect an unborn child.
Risk factors that may increase the likelihood of FAS include:
- Being over 30 with a long history of alcohol use
- Being under-nourished
- Having a first child with FAS
- Having the genetics of slow alcohol metabolism
Knowing the risk factors before becoming pregnant means you have time to replace them with protective factors. You can reduce the chances of your child being harmed by alcohol.
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Signs And Symptoms Of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
The effects of fetal alcohol syndrome will vary among children. However, there are common traits associated with the disorder, including:
- Abnormal facial features
- Low weight or height in any stage of growth
- Smaller than standard head size
- Potential for seizures due to brain development problems
- Learning or intellectual disabilities, which often lead to academic challenges
- Impulsivity or behavioral issues, such as ADHD
- Poor coordination
- Speech or language delays
- Sleep disturbances
Some children may have other issues not listed here that are just as serious. Any of these symptoms make it hard for children to fit in with their peers.
Because these traits can also be linked to other disorders, it is crucial that a doctor assesses and diagnoses a child for potentially having FAS. Misdiagnosis can lead to delayed fetal alcohol syndrome treatment and worsening effects of FAS symptoms.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Diagnosis
Each disorder on the fetal alcohol spectrum has specific criteria a child must meet to receive a diagnosis. To obtain a diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome, a child must meet all of the following:
- Two of the three following facial features
- The inner and outer corners of the eyelids are smaller than average
- The upper lip appears thinner than normal
- The area between the nose and the upper lip is smooth or without grooves
- Prenatal or postnatal slower growth
- Central nervous system defects
Each child will exhibit symptoms unique to their situation and their mother’s alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Fetal alcohol syndrome treatment plans are based on individual needs.
How Common Is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for every 1,000 live births, one child will be born with fetal alcohol syndrome. However, this number is likely higher because many cases go unnoticed, undiagnosed, or misdiagnosed as other disorders.
For example, a child may have very mild physical effects of fetal alcohol syndrome and be later diagnosed with ADHD. Doctors may not associate ADHD with fetal alcohol syndrome disorder.
The CDC also reports that 1 in 20 children has one of the five types of FASDs. However, limited studies provide evidence of how widespread FAS is in America.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports one in 10 pregnant women between ages 15 and 44 drank alcohol. They claim that between 1%-5% of American first graders have symptoms of FASDs.
How Can Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Be Prevented?
The only absolute prevention of FAS is to avoid drinking alcohol while pregnant. However, not all pregnancies are planned, so many women do not know they are pregnant while they are still consuming alcohol. If you stop using alcohol as soon as you find out you are pregnant, you may be able to reduce the chances or harms associated with FAS.
Some people with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) can’t quit drinking alcohol cold turkey. Doing so could harm the mother and the baby. In such cases, it is crucial to seek alcohol addiction treatment immediately after discovering pregnancy. Doctors may want to use medications to help you wean off alcohol to prevent you or your child from experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
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How Much Alcohol Causes Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?
There is not a specific amount of alcohol that causes fetal alcohol syndrome because multiple factors play a role, and each situation is different. You must consider the following factors when trying to avoid FAS:
- How much alcohol do you consume?
- How long have you been drinking alcohol?
- During which stage of pregnancy did you drink?
- Do you have genetics predisposing your baby to FAS?
- How is your overall health and well-being?
While environmental factors don’t directly cause FAS, they can influence your health. For example, living with one or more people with alcohol use disorders or untreated mental health disorders can be stressful for you and your baby. The stronger your body is, the better it can properly grow and develop a healthy baby.
Is Any Amount Of Alcohol Safe During Pregnancy?
What you consume while pregnant enters your blood and travels through your umbilical cord directly into your baby’s system. Your unborn baby also consumes junk food, prescription or illicit drugs, alcohol, and anything else you ingest. Therefore, no amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy.
There is no way to tell how alcohol will affect the baby, so it is safest to avoid it entirely while pregnant.
Resources For Pregnant People With Alcohol Addiction
If you are pregnant and misuse alcohol or have an AUD, help is available. Many resources exist that you can access today. You can start by using the online tools below:
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration national helpline
- Alcoholics Anonymous meeting locator on aa.org
- FASD United: Family Navigator or Circle of Hope
- Recovering Mothers Anonymous
Additional resources include local pregnancy centers, hospitals, licensed mental health counselors, and mental health or drug and alcohol treatment centers. Explore our rehab directory to find a treatment facility near you.
Treatment For Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol addiction treatment is the best way to overcome alcoholism long-term. Evidence-based therapies tailored to meet your needs can help you learn new skills so you can remain sober for good. Whether you are pregnant or not, you deserve to get treatment to help you live a healthy, happy life.
The severity of your alcohol misuse will determine where you begin treatment, which may be in an inpatient or outpatient program. You can receive medical care, psychotherapy, peer support, and family therapy in all programs. A typical recovery program may include the following:
- Treatment medication can help ease withdrawal symptoms and stabilize you physically and psychologically.
- Behavioral therapies teach you coping skills to avoid alcohol relapse and maintain recovery. These occur in individual and group activities.
- 12-step facilitation groups, like Alcoholics Anonymous, give you peer support to foster rehabilitation.
- Family therapies help those affected by your AUD learn to support you in recovery. Families can also attend Al-Anon for 12-step support in their journey.
- Alternative therapies include acupuncture, art therapy, music therapy, animal-assisted therapy, yoga, and meditation.
- Aftercare connects you with community resources to help you recover successfully. Examples include childcare, transportation, housing, and continued recovery support.
If you’re pregnant and are ready to quit alcohol for the safety of yourself and your child, help is available today. Contact a treatment provider who can answer your rehab-related questions and help you discover your treatment options.
