What is fetal alcohol syndrome?

Fetal alcohol syndrome is part of a group of problems called fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. The disorder can cause physical and neurological disability due to the exposure of alcohol during pregnancy¹. A study published in 2001 found that 4% of the population is likely to have some form of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, which is 2.5 times higher than that of autism². 

What are fetal alcohol syndrome causes?

As the name would suggest, the cause of fetal alcohol syndrome is alcohol. This is not drinking alcohol at any point of your life, but alcohol consumed during pregnancy. 

Alcohol in the mother’s bloodstream passes into the placenta, straight into the baby’s circulation. The baby can’t process alcohol as well as adults do so it stays in their body for longer, which can lead to damage of the brain and body and prevent a baby from growing normally. 

Sometimes, not all babies can survive this and it can result in a miscarriage. However, babies born with fetal alcohol syndrome can have lifelong disabilities. There is no safe time to drink alcohol during any of the trimesters during pregnancy³.

Alcohol at any point in pregnancy can lead to irreversible damage to the baby however, higher levels of alcohol taken during pregnancy has been linked to more severe cases of fetal alcohol syndrome³. 

Fetal alcohol syndrome symptoms

The symptoms associated with fetal alcohol syndrome are permanent and severity is linked with the amount of alcohol consumed during pregnancy³. 

Physical symptoms might include: 

• Mobility and balance issues
• Problems with vision and hearing 
• Issues with joints, muscle, bone, heart and kidneys

Learning and developmental issues include:

• Issues with thinking, concentration and memory 
• Difficulty regulating emotions
• Trouble developing social skills
• Overactivity and impulse control 
• Speech and language impediments

Preventing fetal alcohol syndrome

The best way to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome is to not drink alcohol during your pregnancy. There is no established safe level of alcohol in pregnancy. Fetal alcohol syndrome is a completely avoidable condition^1,3.

It can be tough to completely cut out alcohol, but there are many organisations that can provide you with support such as³:

• Drinkline is a free national alcohol helpline that you can call if you have worries about your own or someone else’s drinking
• We Are With You is a charity providing free, confidential support not only for alcohol but also for drugs and mental health problems
• Alcoholics Anonymous offers free self-help groups where you can go through a ‘12 step’ programme to get sober
• National Organisation for FASD has a helpline that you can also call. You will need to leave a message and someone will call you back

Fetal alcohol syndrome life expectancy

On average, it has been found that individuals diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome live up to 34 years old⁴. This may be due to the lack of support and intervention that society can offer alongside disability. 

Fetal alcohol syndrome diagnosis 

There are distinctive characteristics of fetal alcohol syndrome which are seen in a newborn baby. These include a small head, low nose bridge, thin upper lip, small philtrum (cupid’s bow), small eyes and a flat midface. This may be accompanied by growth delays and problems with the central nervous system like memory and attention. 

Paediatricians are the specialist doctors who are able to formally diagnose the condition. While a confirmation of drinking alcohol while pregnant is not necessary, it can help to confirm the  diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome. 

Fetal alcohol syndrome treatment 

Sadly, the damage to the brain and body from fetal alcohol syndrome is irreversible and cannot be cured. However, a child with fetal alcohol syndrome really benefits from early recognition and diagnosis meaning they can receive the support they need. In the UK, there are different educational and behavioural strategies that healthcare professionals can offer your child⁵. 

There are also groups for fetal alcohol syndrome disorders where you can connect with other families in similar situations and gain some valuable advice from each other. 

Here are some support networks you can look at³:

• FASD Network UK
• National Organisation for FASD

There is nothing wrong with drinking, it is your choice on how you want to enjoy your life. However, due to the potential effects of alcohol on your baby, it is best to stay sober or get help to stop drinking before you start trying to conceive and during the 9 months of pregnancy!