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Tony Loneman, a character in Tommy Orange’s 2018 novel There There, was born with fetal alcohol syndrome, which he calls “the Drome”. The best prevention method is to avoid alcohol use when you’re trying to become pregnant, when you suspect you may be pregnant, or when you know you’re pregnant. The conditions involve certain physical characteristics, issues with learning and behavior, or a mix of both physical and developmental problems. The more you drink while pregnant, the greater the risk to your unborn baby.

What’s the difference between fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs)?

• You may also find it helpful to contact a support group for people with FASD.
• Fetal alcohol syndrome is one of four disorders that comprise fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).
• The lack of accessible, FASD-informed services perpetuates a deficit-based model.
• Remember, the effects of alcohol can make a mark during the first few weeks of a pregnancy.
• Although there is no treatment for FAS, there are strategies that can improve its symptoms.
• The CDC explains that there’s no safe time to consume alcohol during pregnancy.

Yet researchers like Golding have suspected a paternal role for a long time. “For years now, we’ve been hearing stories from women who said, ‘I never drank during pregnancy, but now I have an FAS kid – and my male partner was a chronic alcohol abuser’,” he says. But such stories often were dismissed as mothers being forgetful, if not outright lying. A single episode of binge drinking, especially during the first few weeks of pregnancy, can lead to FAS.

How Can Alcohol Consumption Affect Developing Fetuses?

FASDs are preventable if a baby is not exposed to alcohol before birth. Diagnosing https://ecosoberhouse.com/ involves an exam from a healthcare professional with expertise in the condition. Early diagnosis and services can help improve your child’s ability to function. Any amount of alcohol during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome. Damage to your developing baby can happen at any point during pregnancy. All alcohol, including beer, wine, ciders and hard liquor can all cause FAS.

What Are the Symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders?

People should speak with a doctor or FAS specialist as soon as possible if they have concerns. It takes most people 4–6 weeks to confirm that they are pregnant after having penetrative sex. Therefore, people who are trying to get pregnant may be pregnant for 1 month or more without knowing it.

Management and Treatment

• Adults with FAS may require additional support and services to help them manage symptoms.
• Visit these blogs for more tips and information about fetal alcohol syndrome.
• Central to the effective implementation of prevention strategies is the establishment of strong cross-cultural and community partnerships and the embrace of cultural knowledge systems and leadership233.
• If you’ve consumed alcohol during pregnancy, talk to your healthcare provider.
• For example, stimulants may help with attention or emotional regulation, while neuroleptics may help with aggression.

Many features seen with fetal alcohol syndrome also may occur in children with other conditions. If fetal alcohol syndrome is suspected, your pediatrician or other healthcare professional will likely refer your child to an expert with special training in fetal alcohol syndrome. This may be a developmental pediatrician, a neurologist or another expert. The expert does an evaluation to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms to help make a diagnosis. Alcohol use during pregnancy causes life-long issues that can be very serious. If you’ve consumed alcohol during pregnancy, talk to your healthcare provider.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

In the womb, a baby doesn’t have a fully developed liver that can process or break down alcohol, so it can easily get to and damage the baby’s organs. One study found that the people with FAS had a significantly shorter life expectancy.[6] With the average life span of 34 years old, a study found that 44% of the deaths were of “external cause”, with 15% of deaths being suicides. The prognosis of FASD is variable depending on the type, severity, and if treatment is issued.[citation needed] Prognostic disabilities are divided into primary and secondary disabilities. That said, any amount of alcohol may increase the risk of a baby developing an FASD. A double lid gives the upper eyelid the appearance of having two sections due to a visible crease. About 50% of people of Asian descent have a fold at the canthus that creates a monolid.

If the staff members are not familiar with the evaluation process, the next step is to ask to speak with the district’s special education director. It is best to speak with a doctor who specializes in FAS, such as a developmental pediatrician, clinical geneticist, or child psychologist. Parents and siblings might also need help in fetal alcohol syndrome dealing with the challenges this condition can cause. Parents can also receive parental training tailored to the needs of their children. Parental training teaches you how to best interact with and care for your child. According to many studies, alcohol use appears to be most harmful during the first three months of pregnancy.

• Unfortunately, up to 5% of first graders in the United States have FASD.
• Many of the features of FAS are most evident during the preschool to early school age period.
• But such stories often were dismissed as mothers being forgetful, if not outright lying.
• If you are having unprotected sex and not using birth control, you must abstain from alcohol.

Foetal alcohol syndrome: Why fathers need to watch what they drink too

Physical development issues

• Alcohol also alters epigenetic gene regulation through changes in DNA methylation.
• Most often, FAS is diagnosed based on the mother’s history and the appearance of your baby, based on a physician examination by a physician.
• This was true whether the alcohol-exposed parent was the mother or the father, but was most dramatic if both parents were exposed.
• Some behavioral difficulties may cause a person difficulty getting along with others.