Alcohol intake and pregnancy: Explaining fetal alcohol syndrome

Louise Habash image credit: hollywoodlife.com

Mothers have been told time and again that alcohol is the leading known preventable cause of developmental and physical defects in babies.

Wine, beer, and liquor intake during pregnancy increases the risk of birth defects to a child who, unfortunately, suffers a lifetime of consequences. This includes mental and physical inadequacies and a pattern of physical, developmental, and functional issues referred to as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).

“Fetal alcohol syndrome refers to a newborn who manifests signs, either physically or behaviorally, that are indicative of significant exposure to alcohol during the course of pregnancy,” explains Kathryn J. Shaw, M.D., of the White Memorial Medical Center, Los Angeles. She further notes that FAS happens to be the leading cause of mental retardation in the United States and accounts for about three billion dollars of healthcare costs.

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Risks While excessive alcohol consumption during pregnancy exposes the baby to a higher risk of FAS, it has also been recognized that the condition can develop even with smaller amounts of alcohol drinking.

Symptoms A constellation of symptoms appear or develop overtime, including physical appearance and behavioral pattern. The symptoms range from dramatic to less dramatic, depending on how a child is affected. Some of these symptoms are: flat lips, deformed limbs, heart problems, and mental retardation.

Diagnoses Fetal alcohol syndrome can be diagnosed after the baby is born. The pediatrician will evaluate the physical appearance of the child, and then later on, the behavioral and learning patterns.

A friendly reminder to moms-to-be: prevention is the key. Not drinking for nine months can give the baby a better life.

Louise Habash image credit: sciencemediacentre.co.nz

Dr. Louise Habash is a perinatologist. Know more about her by following her on Twitter.