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FAS team on how alcohol is changing the future of our children

Homepage Articles FAS team on how alcohol is changing the future of our children

FAS team on how alcohol is changing the future of our children

Unfortunately, it is also common for pregnant women to harm not only themselves but their babies as well. More and more people are aware of the harmful effects of alcohol and decide to abstain partially or completely. In such a situation, a disorder called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can develop in their offspring.

Table of Contents

1. What's the FAS team?

They are collectively called fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Williams, V.C. According to data from the National Center for Nutrition Education in Poland, 1738% of pregnant women consume alcohol, including 2% regularly, and an average of 900 children with FAS are born annually. In the FAS group, 4 different types can be distinguished: partial alcohol disorder, i.e. the presence of several characteristics of fetal disorders such as altered facial expressions (flat between the nose and mouth, small upper limbs and outer limbs, and wide open eyes); this can lead to physical effects related to alcoholism, these symptoms are often associated with neurological problems, and the effects of neurological disorder; are usually associated with alcoholism and other neurological conditions; The effects of this disorder are not the same as those associated with ADHD.

2. Is there a safe dose of alcohol in pregnancy?

Because the fetus has no educated processes that metabolize the poison, it can remain in the body for much longer than in an adult human, which can cause developmental disruptions primarily of the nervous system. At this stage, exposure is most dangerous for the foetus because it is when it develops most intensely. Harmful by-products produced during the metabolism of alcohol can concentrate in brain cells and lead to their malformation. Oei 2020). Even in the early stages of pregnancy, alcoholism may be associated with adverse pregnancy consequences. Ajong and 2014). Despite the results of recent studies, it appears to be important to observe that alcohol does not exist in the entire bloodstream for several weeks, but that alcohol and alcohol are not present in the bloodstream.

3. Symptoms of FAS in children

In addition, low body size and weight, small skull size, and distorted limbs are often observed.Hoyne et al. 2016).In people with FAS there is an increased risk of kidney disease and problems with the bone or cardiovascular system.The most specific is facial appearance, including a flat space between the nose and mouth, small upper jaw, and small, broad-shouldered eyes.

4. How to prevent the FAS team

Proper education and dissemination of knowledge about the harmful effects of high-yield beverages and their effects on the fetus are of utmost importance. Participants in the program participated in motivational sessions to help them limit alcohol consumption and educate them about the proper use of contraception. After the intervention, more than 69% of women reported a reduced risk of alcohol consumption during pregnancy (J.D. The only way to prevent FAS syndrome is to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy.

5. Whether FAS can be cured

Early diagnosis allows a child to be placed in specialized centers or educational classes, but also to provide social assistance and appropriate education to family members. A home full of love, security and empathy is associated with a reduced risk of secondary consequences such as crime, unemployment or lack of education. However, there are measures that can help manage the symptoms of the disorder. Given that FAS has a wide range of health consequences, interdisciplinary approach to the problem is extremely important. For children with FAS, it is very important to promote an environment that accepts different forms of aggression because they are less susceptible to FAS and, if they are not treated, they are more likely to suffer from neurological disorders.

6. Different types of therapy

Best Buddies aims to develop social skills among children with FAS. Families Moving Forward is a program directed directly to parents of children experiencing severe behavioural disorders. The most common problem for children with the FAS syndrome is difficulty in counting. The last of the methods proposed by their therapists is Parents and Children Together (PACT), which aims to train children's self-regulatory skills in alcohol. Unfortunately, not all of the above mentioned methods are still popular in Poland. It is important that the therapeutic approach is based on the best-practice methodology of learning.

7. Parental education is the key to the proper development of the child

First and foremost, parents should focus on the child's strengths and strengths, and strive to support their development. To properly support the learning process, it is beneficial to reach out for visual or musical help. Children with FAS require special parental care, which is associated with a number of challenges, so numerous meetings and support groups are organized for childcare providers affected by this problem. However, in order to provide a child with a greater sense of security, a stable environment, clear and simple communication and consistency are also important.

8. The challenges of the FAS team

Studies show that more than 50% of children with FAS experience deficiencies in fiber, calcium, and vitamins D, E, and K. To avoid the negative consequences of improper nutrition, it is very important to systematically evaluate their height and weight ratios, as well as regularly monitoring their nutrition under the supervision of a dietitian or family physician. Fuglestad et al. 2013). In such people, interest in the child is rarely minimal and there is no intervention associated with the risk of exacerbation and the occurrence of adverse behaviours such as criminal behaviour in the family.
Source

9 września 2020 – Światowy Dzień Świadomości FAS, fundacjafascynacje.pl/2020/09/05/9-wrzesnia-2020-swiatowy-dzien-swiadomosci-fas (23.06.2023).
Adjong J.P. et al., Consuming non-alcoholic beer and other beverages during pregnancy and breastfeeding, „Canadian Family Physican” 2014, 60(8), 742–725.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/facts.html (20.06.2023).
Fuglestad A.J. et al., Inadequate intake of nutrients essential for neurodevelopment in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), „Neurotoxicology and Teratology” 2013, 39, 128–132.
Hanson J.D. et al., Impact of the CHOICES Intervention in Preventing Alcohol-Exposed Pregnancies in American Indian Women, „Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research” 2017, 41(4), 828–835.
Hoyme H.E. et al., Updated Clinical Guidelines for Diagnosing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, „Pediatrics” 2016, 138(2), e20154256.
Krawczyk K., O warunkach leczenia FAS i FASD w Polsce, mp.pl/pacjent/pediatria/wywiady/175745,o-warunkach-leczenia-fas-i-fasd-w-polsce (23.06.2023).
Oei J.L., Alcohol use in pregnancy and its impact on the mother and child, „Addiction” 2020, 115(11), 2148–2163.
Williams J.F., Smith V.C., Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, „Pediatrics” 2015, 136(5), e20153113.