Fetal alcohol syndrome is a set of physical, behavioral or intellectual deficiencies, such as deformities in the face or fingers, lack of balance or motor coordination, or learning and memory problems, which are caused by the consumption of alcohol by pregnant women in any quantity and in any stage of pregnancy.
This is because alcohol reaches the fetus through the placenta in the same concentrations to which the pregnant woman was exposed, being metabolized by the baby’s liver, and remaining in her body for some time, which can cause problems in her development and permanent brain damage.
Treatment of fetal alcohol syndrome, also known as fetal alcohol syndrome, is carried out by a neonatologist at the hospital after the baby is born or a pediatrician, and varies according to the baby or child’s symptoms, and damage caused by the consumption of alcoholic beverages. during pregnancy.
Symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
The main symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome are:
1. Physical defects
Fetal alcohol syndrome can cause physical defects in the baby, such as:
- Facial deformities, such as a short nose, small eyes and thin upper lip;
- Deformities in fingers, arms, legs and joints;
- Small head;
- Vision and hearing problems;
- Malformations in the heart, kidneys or bones.
Additionally, the brain may be small in size (microcephaly) and slow to grow, which can be detected during prenatal imaging tests or after birth.
Other problems that may occur are the baby’s low birth weight, below-average height or heart problems.
2. Brain and nervous system problems
The main symptoms of baby brain and nervous system problems are:
- Lack of motor coordination and balance;
- Difficulty with learning, attention and concentration;
- Memory and judgment problems;
- Speech delay or language difficulty;
- Intellectual disability and low IQ.
In addition, other signs of brain and nervous system problems in the baby include difficulty sucking while breastfeeding, sleep problems, agitation or hyperactivity, for example.
3. Social and behavioral problems
The main symptoms of social and behavioral problems are:
- Poor school performance;
- Problems relating to other children;
- Difficulty controlling impulses;
- Difficulty planning and achieving goals;
- Depression or anxiety;
- Eating disorders.
In addition, other symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome that can occur throughout life are alcoholism, use of illicit drugs, inappropriate sexual behavior or problems getting or keeping jobs.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome can be suspected by the obstetrician during pregnancy when observing physical changes in the fetus during prenatal ultrasound examinations, associated with the pregnant woman’s report about alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
After the baby is born, the diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome is made by a neonatologist through a physical assessment of the baby, who must be monitored by a pediatrician during childhood to check their physical, intellectual and behavioral development.
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Possible causes
Fetal alcohol syndrome is caused by the consumption of alcohol by pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy and in any quantity, as alcohol can pass to the fetus through the placenta.
The exact mechanism of how alcohol affects the development of the fetus is not yet completely known, however, it is known that alcohol affects the formation of organs and the development of the baby’s brain and nervous system, causing irreversible damage, in addition to occurring a reduction in the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the forming fetus.
Furthermore, the baby’s liver metabolizes alcohol more slowly than an adult, and even if the pregnant woman consumes alcohol in low quantities, the baby is exposed for longer to the harmful effects of alcohol.
How the treatment is carried out
The treatment of fetal alcohol syndrome must be carried out under the guidance of a neonatologist or pediatrician and varies according to the baby or child’s symptoms, according to the degree of damage caused by the consumption of alcoholic beverages during pregnancy.
As the damage to the baby is permanent, treatment aims to reduce developmental delays and behavioral, social and intellectual disabilities.
Therefore, the treatment of fetal alcohol syndrome involves a multidisciplinary team, which must include a pediatrician, occupational therapist, psychologists, psychiatrists, physiotherapists and speech therapists.
In addition, the pediatrician can recommend specific medications according to the symptoms and problems with the heart, kidneys, vision or hearing.
How to prevent
Fetal alcohol syndrome can be prevented by not drinking alcoholic beverages during pregnancy.
Therefore, in the case of women who have a suspected or confirmed pregnancy, the consumption of alcoholic beverages should be stopped throughout the pregnancy, including “alcohol-free beers”, as they contain up to 0.5% alcohol in their composition. , not being completely free of alcohol.
Furthermore, in the case of women who suffer from alcoholism, a psychiatrist should be consulted for appropriate treatment, so as not to harm the baby’s development, and avoid fetal alcohol syndrome. Find out how alcoholism is treated.
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