The effect of alcohol on the fetus

A woman who drinks alcohol harms her unborn child. Alcohol enters the fetus's bloodstream from the mother, disrupting cell division, with the brain and spinal cord cells considered to be more sensitive. The term "fetal alcohol spectrum disorder" indicates the degree of alcohol's impact on the child, and its effects range from mild to severe. Alcohol causes disruption of the child's physical and mental development, which are observed throughout life.

How does alcohol affect the fetus?

The effects of alcohol on fetal development:

• Specific facial features: the child may have a small head, a flat face, narrow eyes, and developmental abnormalities in the shape of the head and face become more noticeable by 2-3 years of age.
• Growth failure: Children who were exposed to alcohol in the womb are shorter than their peers.
• Behavioural and learning difficulties.
• Congenital defects, namely, developmental disorders of the eyes, ears, heart, bones and genitourinary system.
• Excessive alcohol consumption during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, frozen pregnancy, or premature birth.

What amount of alcohol is considered safe?

When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, some of it passes to the baby. Excessive alcohol consumption (5 or more drinks at a time) by a pregnant woman can disrupt the development of the fetus. To date, research has not provided strong evidence that small amounts of alcohol are safe for the fetus. Alcohol affects people differently, so no one can say for sure what amount is considered safe.

The risk of developing defects increases with alcohol abuse, but even a small amount of it has a negative impact on the future child. When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, fetal development is disrupted, but the severity depends on many factors:

• how often, how much and at what stage of pregnancy does a woman consume alcoholic beverages: serious developmental disorders of the child are associated with alcohol abuse (5 or more drinks 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 abnormalities than others. It is not clear why this happens, but there may be a genetic link.

What can you do if you drank alcohol during pregnancy?

Try to tell your doctor about it honestly. The sooner you do it, the more chances you have to give birth to a healthy child. If the doctor knows that it is necessary 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, additional examination and testing will be prescribed during pregnancy.

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

When are fetal developmental abnormalities due to alcohol consumption diagnosed?

Signs of "fetal alcohol spectrum disorders" are not always visible at birth. The doctor may see serious abnormalities, but effects of alcohol such as behavioral problems or poor memory may not become apparent until school age. Sometimes abnormalities are visible before birth. If the doctor knows you drank alcohol during pregnancy, he or she may order an ultrasound to look for heart defects or developmental delays. The cause of these abnormalities may not be known, but the results may indicate the need for special care or assistance for the baby after birth.

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

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

Identifying developmental delays early in pregnancy, even if the alcohol exposure is minor, increases the child's chances of living a full life, helps avoid learning difficulties and mental health problems such as alcohol and drug abuse, depression and anxiety.

Symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome

• Specific facial anomalies. The child has a small head with narrow eye slits, a short snub nose, a smooth nasolabial fold, and a thin upper lip. These features usually become more noticeable by the age of 2-3. In adolescence and adulthood, they are leveled out, although the nose may seem larger than usual.
• Underweight or developmental delays. Newborns with symptoms of alcohol syndrome weigh less than 2.5 kg. Children with less severe developmental abnormalities tend to weigh more, but they are smaller in stature.
• Central nervous system disorders. Developmental delays, especially in skills that require muscle strength and coordination, are the first signs of central nervous system disorders. A child exposed to alcohol in the womb may have poor grip strength and impaired visual-motor coordination.
• Behavioral and cognitive impairment. Newborns with alcohol syndrome are usually irritable, have a poorly developed sucking reflex, and have difficulty communicating with parents or a nanny. During school years, the child becomes inattentive, constantly disrupts behavior, and has trouble remembering new material.
• Congenital defects: Structural abnormalities of the eyes, ears, heart, bones, and genitourinary system are common.
• Mental Disorders: Many children and adolescents are more prone to depression, panic attacks, or anxiety.

When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, fetal development is disrupted, but the severity depends on many factors:

• how often, how much and at what stage of pregnancy does a woman consume alcoholic beverages: serious developmental disorders of the child are associated with alcohol abuse (5 or more drinks 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 abnormalities than others. It is not clear why this happens, but there may be a genetic link.

Hereditary pathologies and other diseases can also manifest symptoms that are characteristic of alcohol syndrome. They are often observed after the mother uses anticonvulsants.

Diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome

Determining the child's condition

A pediatrician makes a diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder based on:

• medical history of the mother and child. The mother is asked about the amount and frequency of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The child's medical history includes a brief developmental overview, questions about learning ability, behavior patterns, and hand-eye coordination.
• physical examination of the child: weight, height and head circumference are recorded in the card. The doctor must also determine whether the child has specific facial abnormalities characteristic of alcohol syndrome.

A doctor may order an ultrasound to detect abnormalities (heart abnormalities or developmental delays) before the baby is born, although the cause is often not entirely clear, but the results of the examination will indicate the need for special care or assistance for the baby after birth.

If a doctor knows that a pregnant woman is drinking alcohol, he or she will keep the baby under special observation to detect developmental disorders as early as possible.

The form of developmental abnormalities in alcohol syndrome varies from mild to more severe. In addition, they are often not immediately apparent. Minor symptoms are observed in school age, when behavioral and cognitive problems arise.

A severe form of deviations as a result of alcohol syndrome is determined at 2-3 years of life, and sometimes - soon after birth. This diagnosis is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Specific facial anomalies. The child has a small head with narrow eye slits, a short snub nose, a smooth nasolabial fold and a thin upper lip.
• Slow growth. Children with alcohol syndrome have percentile values 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, a child born with a weight of less than 2.5 kg is considered insufficient. Before birth, the child's weight and height are determined using ultrasound.
• Disorders of development of the central nervous system. The symptom is a small head size. In addition, behavioral and cognitive disorders also indicate such a deviation from the norm.

Behavioural problems due to alcohol syndrome are also seen in older children. Teachers and parents, as well as nannies, are asked to fill out special questionnaires regarding the child's behaviour. Chromosomal analysis and genetic testing are often performed to rule out other causes of these symptoms. In the absence of symptoms, any child whose mother is found to have abused alcohol during pregnancy needs a full examination at 18 months of age. The child should then be regularly examined by a doctor until age 3. During the examination, language, cognitive and adaptive skills are determined.

Examination of the mother

If you drank alcohol during pregnancy and are unsure whether your baby should be tested for signs of alcohol syndrome, talk to your doctor. What you tell your doctor can help identify developmental abnormalities as early as possible. If you are not ready to talk openly with your doctor, find another one with whom you feel more comfortable. The specialist should treat you with respect and be willing to work with you. They should also try to help you cope with alcohol addiction.

If your doctor suspects that you have a problem with alcohol, he or she will ask you to fill out a questionnaire or take a test. If the result is positive, you may be referred to a drug treatment center for treatment and prevention.

Getting rid of alcohol addiction will help prevent the birth of a child with alcohol symptoms in the future.

It is important to diagnose your child with alcohol use disorder in a timely manner and provide the necessary medical care. Diagnosis will also help other people involved in the child's upbringing and education to understand the range of problems and needs.

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Treatment of fetal alcohol syndrome

Treatment for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder depends on the age at which the child is diagnosed and his or her needs.

Preliminary treatment

Have your child examined, then find a pediatrician who has experience treating children with fetal alcohol syndrome and who can identify developmental problems early and prescribe treatment. They can also refer you to a specific social service that provides emotional and psychological support to families whose children were born with "fetal alcohol spectrum disorder." Caring for and raising a child with fetal alcohol syndrome requires patience and a lot of endurance. The child may be very sensitive to sounds and light, so you need to create a quiet and calm environment. Feeding may take a little longer than usual, since such children have a poorly developed sucking reflex. Help your child develop speaking and thinking skills, tell stories, read, hold in your arms and allow the child to play with other children.

If there is an alcoholic in the family, send him or her for treatment. If the mother is an alcoholic, it is necessary to give up this bad habit to prevent alcohol syndrome in future children. The necessary support for the pregnant woman should be provided by her husband, friends or family members, and also help her get rid of alcohol addiction.

Current treatment

Treatment for children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder will change as they grow and develop. Regular check-ups are needed to monitor the child's progress and identify any developmental problems. Teenagers and children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder need support, help with their studies, and monitor their development. Sometimes a child needs special therapy: physical, occupational, and speech therapy, which should be started as early as possible. The child may have difficulty learning, such as having trouble remembering, concentrating, and communicating with peers.

Older children and teenagers need to be taught social skills and how to behave in society.

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

Psychological help or certain medications may be needed for behavioral problems or mental disorders. People born with alcohol syndrome are at risk for developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, anxiety, or alcohol/drug addiction.

If a child has vision problems, corrective glasses should be purchased. Children with congenital defects should undergo surgery or treatment (for example, speech therapy).

Children with alcohol syndrome may have low self-esteem, in which case they need to be encouraged, constantly reminded that the child is very much needed, both by family members and by society.

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Treatment if a new problem appears

Consult with specialists if you think that your child is not making progress or if there are alarming signs. In this case, a thorough examination is necessary.

Treatment at home

Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant and are concerned that your baby may have "fetal alcohol spectrum disorder." If you can't be open with your doctor about it, find someone you feel more comfortable with. The professional should be respectful and willing to work with you. They should also be willing to help you overcome your alcohol addiction.

If your child has alcohol syndrome, you can help him yourself in the following way:

• Get rid of alcohol addiction and provide a sense of stability and security at home, which is so necessary for a child to fully develop.
• Learn how to care for a baby who was exposed to alcohol in the womb. Babies with severe alcohol syndrome are more sensitive to external stimulation (touch, sounds, and light), their sucking reflex is underdeveloped, and they have difficulty completing developmental tasks. If your baby is irritable due to colic, try to calm him down in a quiet, calm room. Try not to take your baby to crowded or noisy places. If problems arise during feeding, do it more often and in small amounts. If you feed with a bottle, buy a special nipple for premature babies.
• Encourage your toddler or preschooler to behave appropriately and foster independence. To do this, you need to develop a daily routine and seek help from specialists.
• See your doctor regularly for ongoing check-ups and monitoring of alcohol use disorder symptoms. Early treatment will minimize the negative impact of alcohol on your child’s development.
• Enroll your child in a special institution as early as possible. Laws guarantee all children the right to an education. This includes children who have learning difficulties due to alcohol syndrome. Parents have the right to be fully informed about educational decisions that apply to their children and can challenge any of them. Contact the education department and find out where you can enroll your child.
• Help your child or teenager adjust to new responsibilities. It is useful for a child to undergo a course of social skills training, which includes psychological help in case of mental disorders or depression. Occupational therapy programs are aimed at teaching teenagers work skills and preparing them for a future profession. Young people with severe alcohol syndrome need constant supervision, both at work and at home. But many of them can live independently.

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

Help for parents

One of the most important aspects of helping a child with alcohol syndrome is taking care of yourself. Talk to your doctor and find out where you and your child can get help. A positive attitude and good health help create a warm home. These qualities are necessary for a child to further develop his or her potential. You may be very worried about your child’s condition, and you may not be able to cope with your feelings. Seek help from a psychologist if necessary. Give up alcohol or refer a family member who abuses it for treatment. Take contraceptives to avoid pregnancy during treatment.

Prevention of alcohol syndrome in children

Any amount of alcohol can affect a child's development, although the risk is greatly increased in the case of alcoholism. No medication can protect a child from the negative effects of alcohol, and the consequences are irreversible.

Alcohol syndrome can be avoided by abstaining from alcohol during pregnancy. The Minister of Health strongly recommends that expectant mothers abstain from drinking alcohol during pregnancy.