What Is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?

Highlights
1. When a pregnant person drinks alcohol, some of that alcohol easily
passes across the placenta to the fetus.

2. People with this condition may have problems with their vision, hearing,
memory, attention span, and abilities to learn and communicate.

3. You can prevent fetal alcohol syndrome by avoiding alcohol during

pregnancy.

Women who drink alcohol during pregnancy can give birth to babies with fetal
alcohol spectrum disorders (sometimes known as FASD). FASD is the umbrella
term for a range of disorders. These disorders can be mild or severe and can
cause physical and mental birth defects. Types of FASD include:

fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)

partial fetal alcohol syndrome

alcohol-related birth defects

alcohol-related neurodevelopment disorder

neurobehavioral disorder associated with prenatal alcohol exposure

FAS is a severe form of the condition. People with FAS may have problems
with their vision, hearing, memory, attention span, and abilities to learn and
communicate. While the defects vary from one person to another, the damage
is often permanent.

CAUSES

What Are the Causes of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?

When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, some of that alcohol easily passes
across the placenta to the fetus. The body of a developing fetus doesnt
process alcohol the same way as an adult does. The alcohol is more
concentrated in the fetus, and can prevent enough nutrition and oxygen from
getting to the fetus vital organs.

Damage can be done in the first few weeks of pregnancy when a woman
might not yet know that she is pregnant. The risk increases if the mother is a
heavy drinker.

According to many studies, alcohol use appears to be most harmful during the
first three months of pregnancy. However, consumption of alcohol any time
during pregnancy can be harmful, according to guidelines from the American
Academy of Pediatrics.

A D VE R T I S EM E NT

SYMPTOMS

What Are the Symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?

Since fetal alcohol syndrome covers a wide range of problems, there are many
possible symptoms. The severity of these symptoms ranges from mild to
severe, and can include:

a small head

a smooth ridge between the upper lip and nose, small and wide-set
eyes, a very thin upper lip, or other abnormal facial features

below average height and weight

hyperactivity

lack of focus

poor coordination
 delayed development and problems in thinking, speech, movement, and
social skills

poor judgment

problems seeing or hearing

learning disabilities

intellectual disability

heart problems

kidney defects and abnormalities

deformed limbs or fingers

mood swings

DIAGNOSIS

How Is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Diagnosed?

The earlier the diagnosis, the better the outcome. Talk to your doctor if you
think your child might have FAS. Let your doctor know if you drank while you
were pregnant.

A physical exam of the baby may show a heart murmur or other heart
problems. As the baby matures, there may be other signs that help confirm
the diagnosis. These include:

slow rate of growth

abnormal facial features or bone growth

hearing and vision problems

slow language acquisition

 small head size

poor coordination

To diagnose someone with FAS, the doctor must determine that they have
abnormal facial features, slower than normal growth, and central nervous
system problems. These nervous system problems could be physical or
behavioral. They might present as hyperactivity, lack of coordination or focus,
or learning disabilities.

What is the function of the placenta during pregnancy?

The placenta acts to provide oxygen and nutrients to the fetus, whilst removing carbon
dioxide and other waste products. It metabolises a number of substances and can
release metabolic products into maternal and/or fetal circulations.

What hormones are produced by the placenta?

Oestrogen also stimulates the growth and development of the mammary glands during
pregnancy, in preparation for breastfeeding. The placenta also releases several protein
hormones, which include human chorionic gonadotrophin,human placental
lactogen, placental growth hormone, relaxin andkisspeptin

What is the first thing to form in a fetus?

This is one of the first things to develop during the embryonic stage. This means
your baby's brain, spinal cord and nerves form during this stage. Heart . An S-shaped
tube forms on the front of the embryo.

What is the first organ to develop in the embryo?

The fifth week of pregnancy, or the third week after conception, marks the beginning of
the embryonic period. This is when the baby's brain, spinal cord, heart and
otherorgans begin to form. The embryo is now made of three layers.

What is the last thing to develop in a fetus?

The lungs are the last thing to develop in the womb and babies that are born early
often have breathing problems because their lungs cannot cope meaning their bodies
do not get enough oxygen. Currently doctors give the baby steroids to try and help the
lungs develop.
What does the placenta do?
The placenta contains a complex network of blood vessels that allow the
exchange of nutrients and gases between the mother and the developing
foetus. The blood supply of the mother does not actually mix with that of the
foetus; this exchange occurs by diffusion of gases and transport of nutrients
between the two blood supplies (see figure). The transfer of nutrients and oxygen
from the mother to the foetus, and waste products and carbon dioxide back from
the foetus to the mother, allows the growth and development of the foetus
throughout pregnancy. Antibodies can also pass from the mother to the foetus,
providing protection from certain diseases.

In addition to the transfer of substances, the placenta has two other main
functions. It can act as a barrier between the mother and the foetus, preventing
some harmful substances in the blood of the mother from damaging the foetus.
However, it cannot exclude all harmful substances passing to the foetus. For
example, alcohol can cross the placental barrier. The placenta also acts as an
endocrine organ, producing several important hormones during pregnancy. These
hormones work together to control the growth and development of the placenta
and the foetus, and act on the mother to support the pregnancy and prepare for
childbirth.