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Everyone knows that during pregnancy it is necessary to take special care with our diet and routine, as well as to abandon some habits that can affect the baby’s development. However, even knowing this, some women venture to risk the health of the baby they are generating in exchange for minutes of “pleasure”, addictions or even enjoyment and forget the serious consequences that this can lead. One of these consequences is the fetal alcohol syndrome.
Symptoms of Fetal Alcoholism
Fetal alcohol syndrome or fetal alcohol syndrome occurs due to high alcohol consumption during pregnancy and also before conception. It is characterized by a set of symptoms that the baby presents throughout life and others soon after birth. The main ones are:
- Microcephaly;
- Small eyes;
- Tapered upper lip;
- Short nose;
- Delays in physical development;
- Delays in mental development.
Usually babies who suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome are born smaller than normal and are indicated as below gestational age . Your weight gain may take longer and have changes in vision and hearing. Neurological changes that result in seizures are also pointed out.
The symptoms pointed out and evaluated by pediatricians in general are: of growth, development, anomalies of the craniofacial region, anomalies in the skeletal tissue, changes in the cardiac apparatus and miscellaneous including strabismus , hearing loss, smaller than normal teeth and hernias in the navel .
IMPORTANT: The exact amount of alcohol capable of affecting the baby’s development and causing Fetal Alcoholism Syndrome is not known for certain. So the best option is not to drink any type of alcohol during pregnancy to ensure.
Over the years, the baby’s development is also affected. Children with fetal alcoholism syndrome tend to have low IQ, have learning difficulties , impaired memory, language and have attention deficit. And due to this whole group, they still have difficulty in socializing, especially at school.
How to Diagnose Fetal Alcoholism Syndrome?
The diagnosis of Fetal Alcoholism Syndrome is unfortunately quite complicated, since there is no specific test to determine the syndrome. In addition to the symptoms being very similar and easily confused with other syndromes and disorders.
It is necessary to present the entire gestational history to the pediatrician and through the knowledge and connection of the alcoholic beverage with the conception, the symptoms should be analyzed in detail. In addition to the clinical evaluation, the symptoms and changes observed by family members must be informed so that an accurate and safe diagnosis can be made and treatment can be started promptly.
After analyzing the child’s symptoms and behavioral part, the pediatrician may order tests that will complement the diagnosis, such as an MRI or a CT scan that is capable of detecting damage in mental development.
How to deal with
There is no cure for fetal alcohol syndrome, but treatments for the symptoms developed by it. Among the treatments are medications, some controlled, behavioral therapy and training for parents who need to know how to deal with the child’s difficulties.
These are the starting points for an adequate treatment, but they will only be successful with a good family life, support from parents , consistency in education, patience and specialized medical monitoring.
In the case of seizures and heart problems, more rigorous and specific monitoring is necessary. To improve motor development it is necessary to accompany a physical therapist and to improve behavioral and social conditions, an occupational and speech therapist who will play a fundamental role in socializing with others and teaching the child to interact with the world.
The diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome is not always made early. What aggravates the child’s development due to the lack of specialized monitoring . In many cases, the mother refuses to expose alcohol intake during pregnancy or the symptoms go unnoticed by the pediatrician due to the lack of cooperation from parents and family members.
Some babies have abstinence from alcohol , as well as babies generated by women using drugs. This abstinence usually passes with the months and if not informed to the pediatrician of what happened it can make it even more difficult to reach the diagnosis or suspect the syndrome.
Risk Factors for Syndrome Development
Some points are indicated as risk factors for the development of fetal alcohol syndrome. The main and already reported above is the consumption of alcoholic beverages during pregnancy. It is not known for sure the minimum amount that causes the syndrome, but it can be said that a small amount of ethanol passed through the placenta can cause irreparable damage in fetal life.
Studies indicate that the chances of developing the syndrome are in alcohol consumption in the first trimester of pregnancy, where the fetus is in full formation. Ingestion of alcohol with a certain frequency, of 3 doses or more at least 2 times a week has a great chance of being born with the syndrome.
According to research assessment, it was observed that in most cases mothers had started drinking alcohol early, even in adolescence. And they had had two or more pregnancies before, with a history of premature birth.
If you like to drink socially or every day and intend to have a baby or have discovered pregnancy it is time to hit the brake and take care of yourself! Your baby ‘s future and health depends solely on you and your care
See Also: Pregnancy Drinks – What to Avoid?
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
