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 been born yet.
How dangerous is alcohol during pregnancy?
As a strong chemical teratogen, ethanol causes numerous damage to the fetus. It rapidly penetrates the placental barrier and enters the baby, and its concentration in the blood of the child is often higher than that of the mother. Immature enzyme systems that are involved in the metabolism of ethanol cannot fully detoxify alcohol. As a result, oxygen does not reach 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 believe that there is simply no safe amount of alcohol.
Fetus susceptible to embryotoxicethanol exposure throughout pregnancy. Alcohol consumption 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. In the last stages of pregnancy, such dependence can cause fetal growth retardation.
What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?
This is a whole group of congenital malformations in a child, caused by the teratogenic effect of ethyl alcohol. This pathology is characterized by a baby lagging behind in physical and mental development, numerous manifestations of dysmorphism, mental retardation and other defects.
Fetal alcohol syndrome is a whole symptom complex that is diagnosed in babies whose mothers suffer from chronic alcoholism. The origin of this pathology is based on the harmful effects of ethyl alcohol toxins and its decay products on the fetus inside the womb. This is possible due to the rapid passage of ethanol through the placenta, which affects the liver, RNA synthesis and the transport of many trace elements.
The frequency of birth of children with this pathology ranges from two to seven cases for every 1000 births. In some countries, these figures are much higher. Experts have noticed a persistent trend: at the birth of the first child with serious developmental disabilities, parents do not draw conclusions - the second baby and subsequent ones in 70% of cases appear with the same diagnosis.
A bit of history
For the first time alcoholization of the fetus insidemother's womb was described by the scientist P. Lemoine. He examined the children of a group of addicted mothers and identified certain developmental disorders. Later, K. L. Jones also spoke in his works about deviations in children whose mothers did not give up alcohol during pregnancy. Combining the two studies, the scientist called these disorders "fetal alcohol syndrome." From that moment, doctors from all over the world began to actively study pathology.
Studies conducted in the CIS show that the fair sex does not have accurate information about the dangers of alcoholic beverages. That is why only a few exclude them during pregnancy. Many women mistakenly believe that dry red wine not only does not harm the fetus, but even contributes to its proper formation. According to statistics, about 80% of women 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, behavioral and intellect disorders. Often children with this diagnosis are lagging behind in weight and height. They differ in their characteristic appearance: shortened palpebral fissures, the upper lip is thin, and the philtrum is practically not expressed. Sometimes there is microcephaly and ptosis of the eyelids. Such facial anomalies are noticeable throughout life. Serious abnormalities are heart defects, joint dysplasia and chest deformity.
Fetal alcohol syndrome in children is characterized byhearing and vision impairment, retardation. They poorly perceive and remember information at school, practically do not control their emotions. Such children have difficulty adapting in a team, they do not know how to make friends with their peers, so they are usually recommended to study in specialized boarding schools.
Diagnosis of pathology
A neonatologist can diagnose fetal alcohol syndrome immediately after a baby is born. Signs characteristic of this pathology are usually visible to the naked eye (insufficient height / weight, external anomalies). It is also important to consider the presence of a so-called alcohol history in the mother.
Fatty acid esters determined in hair and meconium act as peculiar biomarkers. Significant assistance in the formulation of the final diagnosis is provided by neuroimaging methods. These include brain MRI and neurosonography. To exclude severe developmental disorders, babies are given an ECG, ultrasound of organs, EEG.
Follow-up of a child diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome is carried out by narrow specialists.
What treatment is needed?
This pathology is not treatable. However, the timely appeal for help to specialists can significantly facilitate the life of a small patient. Some symptoms can be corrected surgically (disturbance of the heart, digestive tract). Plastic surgery is performed to eliminate maxillofacial defects.
Observation by a neurologist contributes to the correction of minor deviations from the central nervous system. All children with such a diagnosis must be observed by a psychologist. A specialist can help the child adapt to society, correct the peculiarities of his behavior.
Forecast and prevention
Children with this syndrome often spend their entire lives in specialized institutions, and then in neuropsychiatric boarding schools. They turn out to be unnecessary to their 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 identify the so-called risk groups in a timely manner. They may 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 carry out regular work to reduce or completely stop the use of alcoholic beverages by a woman. Those who cannot give up this bad habit on their own should be sent for special treatment.
