Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD)
Alcohol and the developing fetus
Alcohol crosses the placenta from the mother’s blood into the baby’s bloodstream and the baby is exposed to similar concentrations of alcohol as the mother.
The effects of alcohol on a fetus include:
Harm to the development of the fetal nervous system, including the brain. Alcohol can damage developing brain cells.
Under-nourishment of the growing baby. Triggering of changes in the development of the baby’s face, resulting in the typical FASD facial features.
Alcohol and the risk to unborn babies
Babies severely affected by FASD are at risk of dying before they are born. The risk of harm to the fetus is at its highest when the mother drinks a large amount of alcohol very often.
Pregnant women should avoid alcohol
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australia’s main health research organisation, recommends that for women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, not drinking is the safest option. The World Health Organization recommends that pregnant women should be advised not to drink alcohol.
Diagnosis of FASD
When a child has been exposed to alcohol during pregnancy, they should be assessed for features of the different conditions within FASD, including FAS, partial FAS, ARND and ARBD. For each condition, there are diagnostic criteria to help a doctor make a diagnosis. In severe cases, FASD may be diagnosed at birth, but in many cases, the diagnosis occurs later, when the child is having problems with learning or behaviour. Sometimes, the condition may never be diagnosed.
Risk factors for FASD
FASD occurs in babies exposed to alcohol during pregnancy, but not all babies exposed to alcohol develop FASD.
The biggest factor associated with an increased risk of FASD is the amount of alcohol drunk and how often it is drunk throughout the pregnancy. Frequent binge drinking is associated with especially high risks.
Treatment of FASD
FASD causes a lifelong disability and cannot be cured, but a person with FASD can be assisted by programs to help them with their learning and behaviour. Such assistance can enable a person with FASD to maximise their independence and achievements.
Things to remember
Alcohol crosses the placenta from the mother’s blood into the baby’s bloodstream and the baby is exposed to similar concentrations of alcohol as the mother.
The effects of alcohol on a fetus include:
Harm to the development of the fetal nervous system, including the brain. Alcohol can damage developing brain cells.
Under-nourishment of the growing baby. Triggering of changes in the development of the baby’s face, resulting in the typical FASD facial features.
Alcohol and the risk to unborn babies
Babies severely affected by FASD are at risk of dying before they are born. The risk of harm to the fetus is at its highest when the mother drinks a large amount of alcohol very often.
Pregnant women should avoid alcohol
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australia’s main health research organisation, recommends that for women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, not drinking is the safest option. The World Health Organization recommends that pregnant women should be advised not to drink alcohol.
Diagnosis of FASD
When a child has been exposed to alcohol during pregnancy, they should be assessed for features of the different conditions within FASD, including FAS, partial FAS, ARND and ARBD. For each condition, there are diagnostic criteria to help a doctor make a diagnosis. In severe cases, FASD may be diagnosed at birth, but in many cases, the diagnosis occurs later, when the child is having problems with learning or behaviour. Sometimes, the condition may never be diagnosed.
Risk factors for FASD
FASD occurs in babies exposed to alcohol during pregnancy, but not all babies exposed to alcohol develop FASD.
The biggest factor associated with an increased risk of FASD is the amount of alcohol drunk and how often it is drunk throughout the pregnancy. Frequent binge drinking is associated with especially high risks.
Treatment of FASD
FASD causes a lifelong disability and cannot be cured, but a person with FASD can be assisted by programs to help them with their learning and behaviour. Such assistance can enable a person with FASD to maximise their independence and achievements.
Things to remember
- Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) refers to a range of problems caused by exposure to alcohol during pregnancy.
- There is no cure for FASD and its effects last a lifetime.
- A person with FASD can get help with their learning and behaviour to maximise their independence and achievements.
- The World Health Organization recommends that pregnant women should avoid alcohol.
- Recommended that for women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, not drinking is the safest option.