What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?
Children born to women who consume alcohol during pregnancy present Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. This damage mainly results in later intellectual development. Alcohol also alters the function of the placenta, decreasing the transfer of oxygen and various essential nutrients.
What are the symptoms?
The baby with fetal alcohol syndrome may have the following symptoms:
- Growth problems in the womb and after birth.
- Coordination problems
- Decreased muscle tone
- Cognitive delay in thinking, language, psychomotor, and social skills
- Heart problems such as ventricular septal defect or atrial septal defect
- Abnormalities in facial features
Causes of fetal alcohol syndrome
Fetal alcohol syndrome occurs because the mother has consumed alcohol during pregnancy. When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, it is very easy for it to cross the placenta to the fetus and cause serious harm to the baby.
Can it be prevented?
Avoiding alcohol during pregnancy is key to preventing fetal alcohol syndrome. It is important for women to control the use of contraceptives or to detect their pregnancy early so as not to consume alcohol during the first months of the baby’s gestation.
There are psychological therapies to help mothers who are alcoholics to stop drinking alcohol during pregnancy and not harm the baby.
What does the treatment consist of?
Once damage is caused to the baby, it is not possible to cure it. The treatments will be indicated to the pathologies derived from the fetal alcohol syndrome such as growth or cognitive problems.