What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

The word 'fetal' is associated with the fetus - an unborn child. So this might give you an idea about what is fetal alcohol syndrome. This condition is a group of physical, developmental, and functional problems that an unborn child may contract because of its alcoholic mother. What is more important to know is, the damage that is caused by this condition stays permanently. Abstaining from alcohol is something that is one of the prime responsibilities of every expecting mother. However, it is shocking to learn that, every year in a developed country like the United States, around 40,000 babies fall prey to the damage of alcohol in some way or the other.

Factors Responsible for FAS

As the name suggests, FAS is caused due to the intake of alcohol. When this substance is consumed, it makes its way into the bloodstream, from where it reaches the developing fetus, via the placenta. Now, the developing body of the baby does not have the ability to metabolize the alcohol, as efficiently as the body of the mother does. In this way, the blood alcohol concentration in the baby's body would be way higher than what is in the mother's. This results in hampering the supply of oxygen and nutrition to the developing tissues, organs and brain of the baby. The effects of this condition include impairment of the facial muscles, the heart, bones, central nervous system and many other organs of the body. These effects may set in at any time during the pregnancy, and the more the mother drinks, the more vulnerable the baby becomes to develop all such conditions.

Characteristic Symptoms

It is to be understood that fetal alcohol syndrome does not refer to a single problem that may affect the baby. It may be ascribed as an umbrella term for multiple disorders which, as mentioned, are irreversible. Common signs and symptoms include:

• Facial features would be different from the typical. It is common to find the affected children to have small eyes, nose would be short and upturned and the lip would be extremely small. The area between the nose and upper lip would be abnormally smoother.
• Joints, limbs and fingers would show some kind of deformities.
• Growth would be slow, compared to other children.
• Hearing and vision problems.
• Defects in the functioning of the heart.
• The circumference of the head would be small, and so would that be of the brain.
• The affected child would normally have poor coordination.
• Slow psychological development.
• Profound problems in learning.
• Extreme nervousness and anxiety, being hyperactive, poor concentration and attention span.

Treatment Plan

It is really unfortunate for children whose mothers did not realize the dangers of drinking alcohol during their pregnancy. Unfortunate because, neither cure nor any specific treatment has been evaluated by experts, to deal with FAS. Those who have it, have it for life. However, this does not mean that all doors are closed. Heart problems could be improved by surgery, and learning disabilities could be managed with the help of special schools. Counseling also proves to be a helpful method to manage the behavior problems.

And this was all about fetal alcohol syndrome. As you may have understood from the data above, the only way to beat this disease is by preventing it from getting sowed in the first place. So if you are expecting, and wish to see your baby come to this world with a sound mind and a healthy body, then do away with your habit of drinking for good. And if you are not able to, then seek help from a professional. Remember, by emptying your glass of alcohol, you are pouring precious life into your unborn child.