Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can seriously affect the developing fetus and lead to long-term health consequences called Fetal Alcohol Disorder (FASD). One of the most unfortunate disorders of drinking alcohol during pregnancy is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). The disease will last a lifetime and although it can be prevented, this is also one of the causes of birth defects and intellectual disability in children. If your child has FAS symptoms, see a doctor as soon as possible to plan a treatment that will help reduce the child's symptoms.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Recognizing the Symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

1. 

   Be careful of your child's risk of FAS. The exact cause of FAS syndrome is alcohol consumption. The more alcohol a mother drinks during pregnancy, especially in the first 3 months, the higher the risk of her fetus developing FAS. Being alert to a child's risk can help you recognize illness and get your child diagnosed and treated at the right time.
   • Alcohol drinks reach the developing fetus through the placenta and cause the fetal blood alcohol concentration to be higher than that of mother. Meanwhile, the fetus metabolizes alcohol at a much slower rate.
   • Alcohol interferes with oxidation and delivery of nutrients to the fetus. This can seriously affect the developing fetal tissues and organs, including the brain.
   • You may have consumed too much alcohol and did not realize you are pregnant, which in turn increases the risk of developing FAS in the fetus. You need to be aware of this during and after pregnancy.

2. 

   
   
   Recognize the physical symptoms of FAS syndrome. The differing physical symptoms of FAS can be mild or severe. Symptoms can be different facial contours or growth retardation. Identifying these common signs can assist in your child's diagnosis and treatment.
   • Symptoms can appear while the baby is still developing in the uterus or at birth. Or symptoms may appear later, for example behavior problems.
   • Facial features such as eye separation; upper lip is too thin; short and upturned nose; The absence of fold lines between the nose and upper lip may be a sign of FAS syndrome. Children with FAS may also have small and close eyes.
   • Deformed tendons and limbs can be a sign of FAS.
   • A baby's developmental delay before and after birth can be a sign of FAS.
   • Vision and hearing problems can be a sign of FAS.
   • Small head circumference and retarded brain growth may be signs of FAS.
   • Heart defects and kidney problems can also be signs of FAS.
   • Many of the symptoms of FAS mimic those of other diseases. If you suspect your child has FAS syndrome, you should take your child to see a doctor and / or seek advice from many experts.

3. 

   
   
   Observe the brain and central nervous system symptoms. FAS can appear as problems with the brain and central nervous system of the child. Symptoms may be poor memory, hyperactivity. Observing common neurological symptoms can help you identify FAS syndrome and bring your baby to diagnosis and treatment early.
   • Children with FAS may have poor coordination and balance.
   • Children with FAS may have intellectual disability, learning disorders, poor memory, loss of concentration or hyperactivity.
   • Children with FAS may have problems with information processing, reasoning, and poor judgment.
   • Children with FAS may also experience rapid mood swings or anxiety.

4. 

   
   
   Pay attention to social and behavioral issues. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) can also appear in the form of social and behavioral problems. Symptoms may be poor social skills, conflict control problems. Paying attention to these behavioral signs can help you identify FAS and get your baby diagnosed and treated early.
   • Poor social skills, including bonding with others, can be a sign of FAS syndrome.
   • Children with FAS may have difficulty in school or concentrate on completing tasks to achieve a goal.
   • Children with FAS may have difficulty adapting to changes or dealing with conflicts.
   • Children with FAS may have a poor perception of time concept.
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Part 2 of 2: Receiving Diagnosis and Treatment

1. 

   Take your child to see a pediatrician. Seek medical advice for a definitive diagnosis if you suspect that your child has FAS. Early detection and active intervention can help reduce long-term problems in children with FAS.
   • Make a list of the symptoms you notice in your child to help make the diagnosis easier for the doctor.
   • Tell your doctor if you drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy. Note that you should provide information about the frequency as well as the amount of alcohol you have consumed.
   • Giving information about how much and when to drink alcohol can help your doctor evaluate the risk of FAS syndrome.
   • Identifying the symptoms of FAS syndrome but not seeing a doctor can lead to lasting consequences in the child.

2. 

   Understand how doctors diagnose FAS syndrome. Doctors need to have certain knowledge to make the definitive diagnosis of FAS in a child. An open and honest discussion with your doctor can help make the diagnosis quick and successful, helping your child as soon as possible.
   • Your doctor will evaluate certain factors during a diagnosis, including: how often you drink alcohol during pregnancy, your baby's physical characteristics, physical and neurological development and growth of children.
   • The doctor can also evaluate: cognitive abilities as well as difficulty, health, social and behavioral problems.

3. 

   Check your child's symptoms with your doctor. After you describe your child's symptoms, the doctor will start to check for signs of FAS syndrome. A doctor can diagnose FAS syndrome through a simple physical exam, along with more in-depth tests.
   • The doctor will check for physical symptoms in the child, including distance eyes; upper lip is too thin; short and upturned nose; eyes small and too close together; deformation of joints and limbs; vision and hearing problems; small head circumference; heart defects such as heart murmur.

4. 

   Get tested and diagnosed. If your child is suspected of having FAS, the doctor may order tests after the physical exam. These tests can help confirm a diagnosis and help your doctor plan a comprehensive treatment.
   • Your doctor may order brain imaging studies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan.
   • Your doctor may also order blood or urine tests to rule out other diseases that may cause similar symptoms.
   • If you are still pregnant, your doctor may order a blood test or an ultrasound of the pregnancy.

5. 

   Get a CT scan or MRI scan. Further tests can help your doctor confirm a diagnosis for FAS syndrome. The doctor may order a CT scan or an MRI for the child to evaluate for both physical and neurological problems.
   • A CT scan and an MRI will take pictures of the child's brain and help the doctor identify brain damage. This helps your doctor to better plan your treatment.
   • The doctor may order a CT scan and during this the baby will lie down to have the brain scanned by a technician. This shape of the x-ray image gives the doctor a better view of the brain and can show the development of a problem in the brain.
   • The doctor may order an MRI scan and during this the baby stays inside a large scanner for a few minutes. An MRI scan can help give a clearer picture of how much damage is done to a child's brain.

6. 

   Make a treatment plan. Unfortunately, there is currently no specific cure or treatment for FAS. Many symptoms can last a lifetime. However, early intervention can help reduce the effects of FAS syndrome and may even help prevent some secondary defects.
   • Know that early diagnosis and intervention are of utmost importance.
   • A physical and mental disability can follow a child for a lifetime.
   • Your doctor may prescribe or recommend medications to help relieve some symptoms, such as hyperactivity. Your doctor may also recommend medical treatments for health problems such as heart or kidney abnormalities.
   • Your doctor may recommend physical therapy, occupational therapy, and psychotherapy to help your child with walking, talking and improving social skills.
   • Your doctor may recommend that you have your child study with a special teacher to help your child perform better in the learning environment.
   • The doctor can recommend counseling for the whole family.
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Advice

• All women should receive a prenatal care program during pregnancy.
• If you are pregnant or want to become pregnant, you should stop drinking alcohol. Quitting alcohol as soon as possible is good for the fetus.
• FAS is caused by the mother's consumption and / or abuse of alcoholic beverages.

Warning

• Not available safety level Alcohol intake for women during pregnancy. There is also no time What is safe to drink while pregnant? Alcohol can have unpredictable consequences for the fetus at any stage of pregnancy.
• Any alcohol is harmful to an unborn baby.