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What is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)?
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a group of birth defects
caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Children with
FAS have many physical, mental and behavioral problems.
Babies with FAS are small and underweight. As they get older,
they often have trouble with learning, attention, memory,
and problem solving. They may have poor coordination, be
impulsive, and have speech and hearing problems.
FAS does not go away. Its effects last a lifetime. Adults
with FAS often have trouble with work and personal relationships.
Many also have legal problems.
FAS cannot be cured. But FAS is 100% preventable by not
drinking alcohol while pregnant.
Sometimes children of women who drank alcohol during pregnancy
have some, but not all of the problems of FAS. The people
are said to have a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
This is a general term for a number of different conditions
caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy. People with
FASD can have physical, mental, behavioral and/or learning
disabilities.
What are the most common birth defects
or problems of FAS?
Many different types of birth defects are caused by drinking
alcohol during pregnancy.
Some common problems in children with FAS include:
- Faces that do not look normal. They often have thin upper
lips, short noses, short eye openings, and flat cheeks.
- Growth problems. They are often small and short for their
age.
- Brain damage. They may be mentally retarded.
- Problems with development, learning, and behavior.
Sometimes children have some but not all of the alcohol-related
problems of FAS. Experts may say they have fetal alcohol
effects (FAE) but not FAS. Doctors also use some other terms
for children who have alcohol-related problems. These include:
- Alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD). Children with ARBD
do not have FAS. But they do have one or more physical
birth defects caused by alcohol. These may be problems
with the face, eyes, ears, heart, brain, or limbs.
- Alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND). Children
with ARND have some brain damage caused by alcohol. But
these children have milder symptoms than kids with FAS
or ARBD. So doctors have a harder time diagnosing their
problem. They often have trouble in school and have behavior
problems.
How does alcohol cause these problems?
When a pregnant woman drinks beer, wine, hard liquor, or
other alcoholic drinks, alcohol gets into her blood. This
alcohol travels to her baby through the umbilical
cord. Once the alcohol is in the baby's body,
it can cause birth defects.
Drinking alcohol in the early stages of pregnancy can cause
the facial and other physical defects of FAS. Drinking alcohol
at any time during pregnancy can slow down the baby's growth
and harm the baby's brain. There is no safe time during pregnancy
to drink any amount of alcohol. Anytime a pregnant woman
drinks alcohol there is a chance the baby will be harmed.
Can FAS be cured?
No. FAS is permanent.
But children with FAS can be helped. Regular medical care,
hearing aids and eyeglasses can help these children live
more normal lives. Children with FAS need special help at
school. As children with FAS get older, they often need special
services and support to help them live on their own.
Is it okay to drink a little alcohol during
pregnancy?
There is no known safe amount of alcohol a woman can drink
while pregnant. Any amount can harm her baby. So it is best
not to drink alcohol at all if:
- you are trying to get pregnant,
- there is a chance you could be pregnant, or
- you are pregnant.
Not all pregnant women who drink alcohol have babies with
FAS. But the only sure way to prevent FAS, ARBD and ARND
is to not drink alcohol during pregnancy. If you are pregnant
and have been drinking, stop now to protect your baby. If
you need help to stop, talk with your doctor.
To read the rest of this article from WomensHealth.gov,
please click here: http://www.womenshealth.gov/Pregnancy/pregnancy/fas.cfm
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