Fetal alcohol syndrome: Symptoms, treatment, and prevention

There is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy or when trying to get pregnant. Alcohol can cause problems for a developing baby throughout pregnancy, including before a woman knows she’s pregnant. All types of alcohol are equally harmful, including all wines and beer.

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Fetal alcohol syndrome and other FASDs can be prevented by not drinking any alcohol during pregnancy. A woman shouldn’t drink if she’s trying to get pregnant or thinks she may be pregnant. If a pregnant woman does drink, the sooner she stops, the better it will be for her baby’s health. Doctors can diagnose the condition based on drug addiction a baby’s symptoms, especially if they know that the mother drank during pregnancy.

Symptoms and Causes

• The cognitive and behavioural difficulties mean that these costs go beyond health and care, extending to the education and justice systems also.
• For example, a math tutor could help a child who struggles in school.
• Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause the child to have disabilities related to behavior, learning and thinking, and physical development.
• Parental training is meant to help parents to help families cope with behavioral, educational and social challenges.

NICE have accepted the SIGN 156 guideline so these terms are now the guidelines for England as well. Alcohol is a “teratogen,” something known to cause abnormalities in a fetus after prenatal exposure. Alcohol consumed by a pregnant person can reach the fetus and interfere with development of the brain and other body organs. A child exposed to alcohol before birth may face a lifetime of challenges from what are called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Not all infants exposed to alcohol in utero will have detectable FASD or pregnancy complications.

Neurobehavioral disorder associated with prenatal alcohol exposure

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), alcohol abuse appears to be most harmful in the first trimester, or during the first three months of pregnancy. Substance misuse counseling and treatment programs can help with overcoming alcohol or recreational drug use. Joining a support group or 12-step program such as Alcoholics Anonymous also may help.

Signs of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

Research shows that alcohol exposure at specific times during pregnancy can affect the brain in various ways, resulting in a spectrum of brain disorders. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a group of conditions that can occur in a person exposed to alcohol before birth. These conditions can affect each person in different ways and can range from mild to severe. People with FASDs can have lifelong effects, including problems with behavior and learning as well as physical problems.

Risk factors

Harmful effects from alcohol can happen at the earliest stages of pregnancy to the developing fetal brain—even before someone realizes they are pregnant. Because different aspects of the child are developing at all stages of pregnancy, alcohol’s effects on a developing baby can result from alcohol use at any point during pregnancy. Alcohol is a known neurotoxin and the brain develops throughout pregnancy, thus the developing brain and nervous system are always at risk. The point to be noted is these symptoms can also be seen in other mental and behavioral disorders in children. So, your doctor will try to rule out those conditions before diagnosing it as fetal alcohol syndrome.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) (2025) reported that about 4.3% of pregnant women indulged in binge drinking. Although you may not drink every day, binge drinking at once can cause FAS in babies (4). The alcohol crosses the placenta and enters the baby’s blood where it can damage the developing brain and other organs leading to an FASD. FASDs are 100% preventable if a woman does not drink alcohol baby syndrome alcohol during pregnancy. While some growth issues may improve, children with FASDs may have short height or developmental delays through adulthood.

Developmental and Behavioral Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure

Throughout 2018 and 2019, the government has engaged in a series of activities to develop policy on FASD. The FASD UK Alliance is a coalition of groups active in the field, with the stated objective of achieving social change for those affected by FASD. The alliance consists of a diverse range of groups representing local, regional and national groups, as well as links internationally. They have a strong social element, organising wellbeing events where people can share experiences and create support networks, as well as a social media presence.

• Although the study participants were among those most severely affected, the study clearly highlights the extent of life-long social challenges that FASD can cause.
• The group also seeks to raise awareness of FASD, contribute to a reduction in the prevalence of the condition, and works to establish appropriate support mechanisms for those affected by FASD.
• As a result, when a fetus becomes exposed to alcohol, they absorb all of it.
• Having four or more drinks within two hours is considered a single binge-drinking episode for females.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Causes

No one treatment is right for every child, as FASD and its constellation of symptoms differ from one child to another. FASDs need a medical home to provide, coordinate, and facilitate all the necessary medical, behavioral, social, and educational services. Sexually active women who drink heavily should use birth control and control their drinking behaviors, or stop using alcohol before trying to get pregnant.

I’ve tried in the past to stop drinking alcohol, but I just couldn’t do it. Where can I get help?

Even a little bit of alcohol can harm a developing fetus and increase the risk of miscarriage. However, while higher amounts of alcohol are more harmful, there is no known amount or type of alcohol that is safe to consume while pregnant. All alcoholic drinks, including wine and beer, have a similar effect on a developing baby. In addition to the acute effects of withdrawal, babies often suffer the teratogenic (causing physical abnormalities) effects of alcohol.