How to Identify Symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Fetal alcohol syndrome is a term given to infants who suffer from a variety of birth defects caused by the ingestion of alcohol by mothers when they are pregnant. Birth defects and abnormalities in infants can range from physical deformities to mental retardation. Women who drink while pregnant expose their infants to a multitude of possible medical complications and issues, the severity of which increases with the amount of alcohol consumed during the pregnancy. Such birth defects are caused by binge as well as chronic drinking. Drinking during the first trimester affects organ development, while in the second trimester, brain function is affected. Drinking during the third trimester causes a retardation of fetal growth and development. Learn how to identify symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome in order to give infants and children their best chance at survival and a high quality of life.

Instructions

• 1

  Watch for signs of poor suckling tendencies in a newborn, as well as extremely poor sleeping habits. While some infants might experience confusion when attempting to suckle, a baby affected by fetal alcohol syndrome continuously has difficulty feeding.

• 2

  Pay attention to overt signs of irritability in a newborn for no apparent reason. Just like adults, newborn infants also suffer from alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and the only way in which they may express their discomfort is through crying, signs of agitation and anger.

• 3

  Observe signs that an infant is not developing normally. In some cases, the head may appear very small, as well as the eyes. In some cases, you may notice folds of skin that extend from the eyelids to the side of the nose. Other signs of abnormal growth and development may be small jaws, protruding foreheads and cleft palates.

• 4

  Pay attention to any apparent learning difficulties as the baby grows. Infants and toddlers experience both mental and physical retardation. The child may not be able to sit up, roll over or crawl. As children age, they may begin to show obvious signs of mental disabilities that affect learning and conduct.