Effect of alcohol on the fetus

A woman who consumes alcoholic beverages, harms her still unborn child. Alcohol enters the blood of the fetus from the mother, disrupting cell division, while the cells of the brain and spinal cord are considered more sensitive. The term "disorders of the fetal alcohol spectrum" shows the extent to which alcohol affects the child and the consequences vary from mild to severe. Alcohol causes a violation of the physical and mental development of the child, which are observed throughout life.

How does alcohol affect the fetus?

Effect of alcohol on fetal development:

• Specific facial features: a child can have a small head, a flat face, narrow eyes, while disabilities in the development of the shape of the head and face become more noticeable by 2-3 years.
• Growth disorder: children who have been exposed to alcohol in the womb are less likely to grow than their peers.
• Difficulties of behavior and learning.
• Congenital defects, viz., A violation of the development of the eyes, ears, heart, bones and urogenital system.
• Excessive use of alcohol during pregnancy can provoke miscarriage, fetal fading, or cause premature birth.

What is the safe dose of alcohol?

When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, a certain part of it gets to the child. Excessive use (5 or more glasses at a time) of a pregnant woman disrupts the development of the fetus. To date, studies have not given strong evidence that a small amount of alcohol is safe for the fetus. Alcohol affects people in different ways, so no one can tell exactly what dose is considered safe.

The risk of developing defects increases with the abuse of alcohol, but even a small amount of it negatively affects the future child. When a pregnant woman consumes alcohol, the fetus develops, but the degree of severity depends on many factors:

• how often, how and on what term of pregnancy does the woman consume alcoholic beverages: serious violations of child development are associated with alcohol abuse (5 or more glasses at a time);
• whether the mother took other drugs, smoked or had health problems: in this case the child is more at risk of developing certain defects;
• heredity plays a very important role, although some children have more deviations than others. It is not clear why this happens, but there may be a genetic link.

What can be done if you used alcohol during pregnancy?

Try to tell the doctor about it honestly. The sooner you do this, the more chances are to give birth to a healthy child. If the doctor knows that you need to pay attention to possible deviations in the development of the fetus, he will be more attentive both before and after the birth of the child, namely, during pregnancy, additional examination and testing will be prescribed.

If you are addicted to alcohol, consult a doctor, a psychologist or someone else. This step will help you look at the problem of alcoholism and its impact on various areas of life, including pregnancy itself. The father of the child as well as friends and family members should help the pregnant woman to stop using alcoholic beverages.

When are the abnormalities in fetal development diagnosed as a result of drinking alcohol?

Signs of "disorders of the fetal alcohol spectrum" are not always determined at birth. The doctor may see serious abnormalities, but such alcohol effects as behavioral problems or poor memory are manifested at school age. Sometimes anomalies are determined before birth. If the doctor knows that you have consumed alcohol during pregnancy, he will prescribe an ultrasound that can help you diagnose heart defects or delay development. The reason for these deviations may not be established, but the results of the survey will indicate the need for special care or assistance to the child after birth.

How to treat a child with "fetal alcohol spectrum disorders"?

Caring for a child with fetal spectrum disorders requires patience and endurance. The child will need help in studying, communicating with peers, in vocational training. Social services will provide financial and emotional support in the upbringing of the child.

Identifying abnormalities in early pregnancy, even if the effect of alcohol is insignificant, increases the child's chances of a full life, helps to avoid learning disabilities and mental health problems, such as alcohol and drug abuse, depression and anxiety.

Symptoms of alcoholic fetus syndrome

• Specific anomalies of the face. The child has a small head with narrow eyes, a short, snub nose, a smooth nasolabial fold and a thin upper lip. These traits, as a rule, become more visible to 2-3 years of life. In adolescence and adulthood, they are leveled, although the nose may seem more normal.
• Insufficient weight or delay in development. Newborns with symptoms of alcohol syndrome weigh less than 2.5 kg. Children with less serious developmental anomalies, as a rule, weigh more, nevertheless, they are smaller.
• Diseases of the central nervous system. Developmental abnormalities, especially in skills that require muscle strength and coordination, are the first sign of diseases of the central nervous system. A child who has been exposed to alcohol in the womb may have a weak arm compression force and a violation of eye-motor coordination.
• Behavioral and cognitive impairment. Newborns with alcohol syndrome are usually irritable, poorly developed reflex sucking and have difficulty communicating with parents or a nanny. In school years, the child becomes inattentive, constantly disrupts behavior and badly remembers new material.
• Birth defects. Often there are structural disorders of the eyes, ears, heart, bones and urogenital system.
• Mental disability. Many children and adolescents are more prone to depression, panic attacks or anxiety.

When a pregnant woman consumes alcohol, the fetus develops, but the degree of severity depends on many factors:

• how often, how and on what term of pregnancy does the woman consume alcoholic beverages: serious violations of child development are associated with alcohol abuse (5 or more glasses at a time);
• whether the mother took other drugs, smoked or had health problems: in this case the child is more at risk of developing certain defects;
• heredity plays a very important role, although some children have more deviations than others. It is not clear why this happens, but there may be a genetic link.

Hereditary pathologies and other diseases can also be manifested by symptoms that are characteristic of alcohol syndrome. Often they are observed after the mother uses anticonvulsants.

Diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome

Determination of the condition

The pediatrician diagnoses "a disorder of the fetal alcohol spectrum" on the basis of:

• medical history of mother and child. The mother is asked about the number and frequency of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The medical history of the child includes a brief overview of development, questions about the ability to learn, patterns of behavior and visual-motor coordination.
• physical examination of the child: the weight, height and circumference of the head are recorded in a card. The doctor should also determine whether the child has specific abnormalities of the face, characteristic of alcohol syndrome.

The doctor may prescribe an ultrasound for the purpose of revealing pathologies (cardiac abnormalities or developmental lag) even before the birth of the child, often the cause is not entirely clear, but the results of the survey will indicate the need for special care or assistance to the child after birth.

If the doctor knows about the use of alcohol by a pregnant woman, he will keep the child under special supervision to detect a developmental disorder as early as possible.

The form of abnormalities in the development of alcoholic syndrome varies from mild to more severe. In addition, they are often not immediately identified. Minor symptoms are observed at school age, when behavioral and cognitive problems occur.

Severe forms of abnormalities due to alcohol syndrome are determined at the age of 2-3 years, and sometimes - soon after birth. This diagnosis is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Specific anomalies of the face. The child has a small head with narrow eyes, a short, snub nose, a smooth nasolabial fold and a thin upper lip.
• Delayed development. Children with alcohol syndrome have a percentile scores below 10 in weight and height before and after birth. This means that these children are shorter and weigh less than 90 out of 100 children of the same age and sex. In general, the birth of a child weighing less than 2.5 kg is considered insufficient. Before birth, the weight and height of the child are determined by ultrasound.
• Disturbances in the development of the central nervous system. The symptom is the small size of the head. In addition, behavioral-cognitive impairments also indicate such a deviation from the norm.

Behavioral problems due to alcohol syndrome are observed in older children. Teachers and parents, as well as nannies are invited to fill out a special questionnaire on the behavior of the child. To exclude other causes of these symptoms, chromosomal analysis and genetic testing are often carried out. In the absence of symptoms, any child whose mother, as it turned out, abused alcohol during pregnancy, needs a full examination at the age of 18 months. In the future, the child should be constantly shown to the doctor up to 3 years. During the examination, language, cognitive and adaptive skills are determined.

Examination of the mother

If you used alcohol during pregnancy and do not know if you need to examine the child for signs of alcohol syndrome, talk with your doctor. What you tell the doctor will help determine the developmental anomalies as early as possible. If you are not ready to talk openly with your doctor, find another one that you will feel more comfortable with. The specialist should be respectful and willing to cooperate with you. He should also try to help you cope with alcohol dependence.

If the attending physician suspects that you have a problem with alcohol, he will ask you to fill out a questionnaire or take a test. If the result is positive, you can be sent to a narcological dispensary for treatment and prevention.

Getting rid of alcohol dependence will help prevent the birth of a child with an alcoholic symptom in the future.

It is important to put the diagnosis of alcohol syndrome in the child and provide the necessary medical care. Diagnosis will also help other people who are involved in the education and training of the child to understand the range of problems and needs.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9]

Treatment of alcoholic fetus syndrome

Treatment of "fetal alcohol spectrum disorder" depends on the age when the child was diagnosed with this and his needs.

Pre-treatment

Examine the child, then find a pediatrician who already has experience in treating children with alcohol syndrome and who will be able to identify developmental problems as early as possible and prescribe a course of treatment. He will also be able to refer you to a particular social service that provides emotional and psychological support to families with children born with a "fetal alcohol spectrum disorder." Care and education of a child with alcohol syndrome requires patience and a lot of restraint. The child can be very sensitive to sounds and light, so you need to create a quiet and calm environment. Feeding can take a little longer than usual, since these children have a poorly developed suckling reflex. Help the child develop speaking, thinking, telling, reading, holding, and letting the child play with other children.

If the family has an alcoholic, send it to treatment. If this is the mother, you should give up this bad habit to prevent alcoholic syndrome in future children. The necessary support for a pregnant woman should be provided by her spouse, friends or family members, as well as helping her get rid of alcohol dependence.

Current treatment

The course of treatment for children with alcoholic syndrome will change as they mature and develop. It is necessary to visit the doctor regularly for a routine examination so that you can monitor the progress of the child and determine possible violations in his development. Adolescents and children with the syndrome of "fetal alcohol spectrum disorder" need to be supported, assisted in their studies and monitor their development. Sometimes a child needs special therapy: physical, labor and speech therapy, which should be started as soon as possible. A child may experience learning difficulties, namely, it is difficult to remember, concentrate attention and communicate with peers.

Older children and adolescents need to be trained in social communication skills, and how to behave in society.

Occupational therapy prepares a teenager for the future profession. A teenager with serious disabilities needs constant supervision, both in the workplace and at home. But many of them can live independently.

Psychological help or a certain medication may be necessary in case of behavioral problems or mental disorders. People born with alcohol syndrome are at risk for developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, anxiety or alcohol / drug dependence.

If the child has problems with vision, you need to buy corrective glasses. Children with congenital defects need to be operated or treated (for example, logopedic treatment).

Children with alcohol syndrome may have low self-esteem, in which case they should be encouraged, constantly reminding that the child is very necessary, both to family members and society.

[10], [11], [12], [13], [14]

Treatment in the event of a new problem

Consult with specialists if you think that the child is not making progress or showing signs of anxiety. In this case, a thorough examination is necessary.

Home Treatment

Talk with your doctor if you are pregnant and are worried that your child may have a "fetal alcohol spectrum disorder." If you can not openly tell the doctor about it, find another one with whom you will be more comfortable. The specialist should be respectful and willing to cooperate with you. He should also try to help you cope with alcohol dependence.

If the child has an alcoholic syndrome, you can help him as follows:

• Get rid of alcohol dependence, and provide the home with a sense of stability and security that the child needs so much for full development.
• Learn how to take care of a child who has been exposed to alcohol in the womb. Children with severe form of alcohol syndrome are more sensitive to external stimulation (touch, sounds and light), they have underdeveloped the reflex of sucking and they are experiencing difficulties in performing developmental tasks. If the child is irritable as a result of colic, try to calm him in a quiet calm room. Try not to take the child to crowded and noisy places. If problems occur during feeding, do this more often and in small amounts. If you feed with a bottle, buy a special nipple for premature babies.
• Encourage the baby or preschooler to behave appropriately and nurture independence. To do this, you need to develop a daily routine and seek help from specialists.
• Systematically visit the doctor for routine examination and monitoring of symptoms of alcohol syndrome. Treatment at an early stage will minimize the negative impact of alcohol on the development of the child.
• Write the child in a special institution as soon as possible. Laws guarantee all children the right to education. This also includes children who experience learning difficulties due to alcohol syndrome. Parents have the right to full information about pedagogical decisions that relate to their children and can challenge any of them. Contact the education department and find out where you can write your child.
• Help the child or adolescent adapt to new commitments. It is useful for a child to pass a course in social skills, which implies psychological help in case of mental disorders or depression. The programs of occupational therapy are aimed at training the teenager for work skills and preparing for the future profession. Young people with a severe form of alcohol syndrome need constant supervision, both in the workplace and at home. But many of them can live on their own.

Children with alcohol syndrome may have low self-esteem, in which case the situation needs to be remedied by encouraging, constantly reminding that the child is very necessary, both to family members and society.

Helping parents

One of the important moments of helping a child with alcohol syndrome is self-care. Talk with your doctor and find out where you can go for help to you and your child. Positive attitude and good health contribute to the creation of a warm home. These qualities are necessary for the child to further develop his potential. You can be very worried about the state of the child, and you may not be able to cope with your feelings. Ask for help from a psychologist if necessary. Refuse alcohol or send to the treatment of a family member who abuses them. Take contraceptive to avoid pregnancy during treatment.

Prevention of alcoholic syndrome in children

Any amount of alcohol can affect the development of the child, although the risk is much greater in the case of alcoholism. No medical product can protect a child from the negative effects of alcohol, and the consequences are irreversible.

Alcohol syndrome can be avoided by giving up alcoholic beverages during pregnancy. The Minister of Health strongly encourages future mothers to stop using alcohol during pregnancy.