Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Over View

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a condition that derives from the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. Remember if your drinking alcohol then your unborn baby is drinking alcohol. The defects from Fetal Alcohol syndrome will last a life time and there is no cure.

More then 40,000 babies are born each year with some form of physical, mental and behavioral problems derived from the mother drinking during pregnancy and causing fetal alcohol syndrome. Drinking includes not just hard liquor but wine and beer as well.

Symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Since fetal alcohol syndrome is many different conditions caused by one condition it has many different symptoms ranging from mild to quite severe. Some of the main symptoms may include:

• Heart defects
• Bad coordination
• Certain facial features,like small eyes, a thinner upper lip, and a short nose
• Joint problems
• Vision and hearing problems
• Impulse control problems
• Problems with the central nervous system
• Mild to severe mental retardation
• Slow growth
• Small head and brain

Other symptoms may include all kinds of birth defects and mental retardations. Every case is different because of many factors such as amount of alcohol consumed and over how long of a period of time, the mother and child’s original health, and if there are any other problems that could effect the pregnancy.

What Causes Fetal Alcohol Syndrom

When alcohol is consumed it quickly enters into the blood stream and crosses through the placenta where it enters the blood stream of the fetus. Alcohol has a different affect on a fetus then it does the mother. The fetus isn’t fully developed and can’t process the alcohol quickly there for the blood alcohol levels in the fetus are much higher then the mothers and for a longer period of time. This slows the growing process for the fetus as well as reduces the amount of oxygen to the brain and other vital organs.

Most of the serious issues that derive from fetal alcohol syndrome such as deformed facial features are caused while drinking in the first trimester although can be caused at any stage during the pregnancy.

Fetus Alcohol Syndrome Tests and Diagnosis

Unfortunately there are currently no tests to determine if your unborn baby has fetus alcohol syndrome but your health provider can assess the probability of the risk if your honest with them. After the baby is born certain tests can be done within the first few months to help diagnose if he or she might show symptoms of the condition.

To make the diagnosis  your health provider will assess:

• Facial features and disfigurements
• Over all growth
• Hearing issues
• Vision issues
• Behavioral problems
• Motor skills

If problems are found your health provider will often try and rule out other genetic conditions that may exhibit similar symptoms as fetal alcohol syndrome.

Treatments for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Fetal alcohol syndrome is a life long condition and there are no specific treatments or cures but there are things that can be done to help depending on the problems at hand. If there are learning issues then there are classes, special schools, and teachers in most schools that can help. For physical issues like heart problems sometimes surgery is an option as well as with joint problems.