Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): A preventable condition |08 September 2023

Despite what some people might tell you, there is no safe amount of alcohol that has been shown to be safe to consume during pregnancy. For this reason, there is a day which has been selected to bring greater awareness on the dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

The International Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) awareness day is celebrated annually on September 9. This day was chosen so that on the ninth day of the ninth month of the year, the world will remember that during the nine months of pregnancy a woman should abstain from alcohol as a way of preventing FASD.

What is Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)?

Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a broad term used to describe a range of conditions with varying signs and symptoms on a scale from least to most effects that develops in a baby exposed to alcohol before birth.

Foetal alcohol syndrome is the most severe condition on this scale. Other conditions under the FASD umbrella include conditions that affect intellectual ability, behaviour and mental acuity as well as overt physical defects.

What causes FASD?

A woman who consumes alcohol during pregnancy is essentially giving her unborn child the same concentration of alcohol that she is consuming. The alcohol crosses the placenta and reaches the baby’s blood stream. Unfortunately, a baby cannot process alcohol properly due to their immature body organs and smaller body size. The alcohol therefore stays in their body for a long time. High alcohol intake may lead to a miscarriage or stillbirth. Babies who survive however are left with lifelong problems.

When a baby is exposed to alcohol during pregnancy, the alcohol affects the baby’s overall development, both physically and mentally. Although all body systems are affected by the harmful effects of alcohol, the baby’s growing brain and the central nervous system are extremely vulnerable.

Alcohol affects the body of a developing baby during pregnancy in different ways. Alcohol destroys cells in different parts of the baby’s body leading to abnormal physical development. Alcohol can slow down the blood supply carrying food and oxygen to the baby hence reducing the amount available. The toxic byproducts of alcohol breakdown can also accumulate in the baby’s brain cells leading to irreversible damage.

It is difficult to pinpoint exactly when alcohol can cause the most damage as the baby continuously grows and develops throughout the whole nine months of pregnancy, especially the baby’s brain. This implies that it is unsafe to consume any alcohol prior to the baby being born.

If you are planning your pregnancy, then it is best to avoid any alcohol during that period. It is noteworthy that many women are unaware of a pregnancy until they have reached the fourth to sixth week. If you are drinking alcohol during that time it means that the baby is exposed to alcohol in the first few crucial weeks of life which can negatively impact on his/ her development and may lead to alcohol foetal syndrome.

Signs and symptoms of FASD

The type and severity of symptoms that a child with FASD experiences ranges from mild to severe depending on how much and how frequently the mother drank alcohol during the pregnancy. In general, the symptoms are more severe if there was a larger amount of alcohol consumed. Some children may have few, some or all of the symptoms. As with other spectrums, each child will have their unique strengths and weaknesses. However, all of them will have some degree of brain dysfunction due to alcohol exposure during pregnancy.

The symptoms relating to physical defects include a small head due to reduced brain size; deformities of their limb (arms, legs), finger or joint; difficulty seeing or hearing properly; low body weight; short height; and distinctive facial features like small eyes, thin upper lip and a ridge between the nose and upper lip.

The symptoms relating to the brain and central nervous system include poor coordination and balance; hyperactivity; difficulty concentrating or very short attention span; speech and language delays; difficulty in reasoning and problem-solving; learning difficulties; poor social skills and poor short-term memory.

The complications of FASD later in life

A child with FASD grows up into an adult with a range of problems influenced partly by the environment they grew in as well as the support they received in the early years. Many of them have behavioural problems which impact on their quality of life.

They are more vulnerable to depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders. They may end up in substance abuse in particular alcohol and drugs. They have poor school performance and may end up being unable to finish school. They display inappropriate social conduct, truancy in the workplace, are aggressive and do not abide by the law. They are also at higher risk of committing suicide, to be involved in an accident or homicide.

Treatment of FASD

There is no cure for FASD therefore once the child is diagnosed with the condition the only treatment is managing the symptoms present with timely and appropriate support. The earlier that support is given the higher the chance that the child can have better outcomes later in life.

The treatment plan given is usually individualised for each child and involves different health professionals. The aim is to address the learning difficulties, behavioural problems and assist with activities of daily living. Medication may also be given to address specific mental health conditions if required.

Preventing FASD

FASD is a condition that can be prevented by not drinking alcohol at all throughout your entire pregnancy. There is treatment available if you think that you may have an addiction to alcohol or you need help to stop drinking. Reach out to health professionals who can assist you.

Despite the varying concentration of alcohol in different beverages, none of them are better than the other. You should avoid all wine, beer, cider, alcopops, liquor, spirits and any beverages like cocktails derived from alcohol when planning your pregnancy or the moment you find out you are pregnant.

Give your baby the best start in life by avoiding alcohol and preventing FASD.

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Yours in health

The E4OH team