Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Alcohol during pregnancy

Doctors knowingly constantly warn about the dangers of alcohol, especially during pregnancy. In addition to the negative impact on the mother's body, it affects the fetus inside the womb - a child who has not even come into the world.

What is dangerous alcohol during pregnancy?

Being a strong chemical teratogen, ethanol leads to numerous damages to the fetus. He quickly penetrates the barrier of the placenta and gets to the baby, and his concentration in the blood of the child is often higher than that of the mother. Immature enzyme systems that participate in the metabolism of ethanol, can not fully neutralize alcohol. As a result, oxygen does not flow to the fetus, which necessarily affects its development and formation, causing the appearance of fetal alcohol syndrome.

It is assumed that the critical dose of ethyl alcohol for a baby in the womb is 30-60 ml per day. However, most experts are sure that there is simply no safe amount of alcohol.

The fetus is prone to embryotoxic effects of ethanol throughout pregnancy. The use of alcohol in the first trimester causes a high risk of congenital malformations and intrauterine death, in the second trimester - structural disorders of the central nervous system. On the last days of pregnancy, such dependence can cause a delay in fetal growth.

What is fetal alcohol syndrome?

This is a whole group of congenital malformations in the child due to the teratogenic effect of ethyl alcohol. This pathology is characterized by a lag in the child's physical and mental development, numerous manifestations of dysmorphism, mental retardation and other vices.

Fetal alcohol syndrome is a whole symptom complex that is diagnosed in children whose mothers suffer from chronic alcoholism. The origin of this pathology is the harmful effect of toxins of ethyl alcohol and the products of its disintegration on the fetus inside the womb. This is possible due to the rapid patency of the placenta of ethanol, which affects the liver, the synthesis of RNA and the transport of many trace elements.

The frequency of birth of children with this pathology varies from two to seven cases per 1000 births. In some countries, these indicators are much higher. Experts have noticed a persistent tendency: at the birth of the first child with serious developmental abnormalities, the parents do not draw conclusions - the second baby and the subsequent ones appear in 70% of cases with the same diagnosis.

A bit of history

For the first time alcoholization of the fetus inside the mother's womb was described by the scientist P. Lemoine. He examined children from a group of dependent mothers and identified certain developmental disorders. Later KL Jones also told in his works about deviations in children whose mothers did not give up alcohol during pregnancy. Combining two studies, the scientist called these violations "fetal alcohol syndrome." From that moment, doctors from all over the world began to actively study pathology.

Studies conducted in the CIS show that representatives of the fair sex do not know the exact information about the dangers of alcoholic beverages. That's why only a few exclude them during pregnancy. Many women mistakenly believe that red dry wine not only does not harm the fetus, but even contributes to its proper formation. If you believe statistics, about 80% of ladies drink alcohol before pregnancy, and 20% do not refuse them until the birth of the baby.

Clinical picture

Fetal alcohol syndrome is the main cause of mental abnormalities in a child. They can manifest themselves in the form of CNS disorders, impaired behavior and intelligence. Often children with such a diagnosis lag behind in weight and height. They differ in their characteristic appearance: shortened eye cracks, the upper lip is thin, and the labial groove is practically not expressed. Sometimes there is microcephaly and ptosis of the eyelids. Such facial anomalies are noticeable throughout life. Serious deviations are heart defects, joint dysplasia and chest deformation.

Fetal alcohol syndrome in children is characterized by hearing and vision impairment, retardation. They do not perceive and remember information at school, they do not control their emotions. Such children problematically adapt in the team, do not know how to be friends with peers, so they are usually recommended to study in specialized boarding schools.

Diagnosis of pathology

The neonatologist can immediately diagnose fetal alcohol syndrome immediately after the birth of a child. Symptoms characteristic of this pathology are usually noticeable to the naked eye (insufficient height / weight, external anomalies). It is also important to consider the presence of a so-called alcoholic anamnesis in the mother.

Specific biomarkers are the esters of fatty acids, determined in hair and meconium. Significant help in setting the final diagnosis is provided by methods of neuroimaging. These include brain MRI and neurosonography. To exclude serious violations in the development of babies do ECG, ultrasound organs, EEG.

Follow-up monitoring of the child with a diagnosis of "alcoholic fetus syndrome" is carried out by narrow specialists.

What treatment is required?

This pathology can not be treated. However, timely access for help to specialists can greatly facilitate the life of a small patient. Some symptoms can be corrected surgically (disruption of the heart, digestive tract). Plastic surgery is performed to eliminate maxillofacial defects.

Observation at the neurologist contributes to correction of non-essential deviations from the central nervous system. All children with this diagnosis must necessarily be observed by a psychologist. The specialist can help the child's adaptation in the society, correct the peculiarities of his behavior.

Prognosis and prevention

Children with such a syndrome often spend their entire lives in specialized institutions, and then in psycho-neurological boarding schools. They turn out to be unnecessary for parents and unable to take care of themselves.

To prevent alcohol syndrome in a child of all women of childbearing age, it is necessary to examine and timely identify the so-called risk groups. They can include ladies who regularly drink alcohol. Often many women do not even suspect how dangerous alcohol is during pregnancy for an unborn baby. Doctors should conduct regular work to reduce or completely stop the use of alcohol by a woman. Those who can not independently abandon this harmful habit, must be sent for special treatment.