FASD Leaflet 2013 - Western Health and Social Care Trust

FASD is a 100% preventable condition
Alcohol &
Pregnancy
Information for Health Professionals
FASD
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
This leaflet
will provide
information
for Health
Professionals
on Foetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorder
(FASD) and
alcohol in
pregnancy.
What is FASD? The term FASD describes a spectrum of
structural, behavioural and neurocognitive impairments
that can vary immensely between individuals.
FASD is a spectrum of lifelong conditions that are entirely
preventable. If a woman abstains from alcohol throughout
her pregnancy, her baby cannot be born with FASD.
FASD is an umbrella term that covers:
• Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
• Alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND)
• Alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD)
• Foetal Alcohol Effects (FAE)
• Partial FAS (Pfas)
Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is the most clinically
recognisable form of FASD because it is characterised by:
• Central nervous system dysfunction
• Facial dysmorphology
• Pre- and post-natal growth deficiency
If a woman drinks alcohol when she is pregnant, her baby
is at risk of being born with FASD. When a pregnant
woman drinks, the alcohol in her blood passes freely
through the placenta into the baby’s blood. As the foetus
does not have a fully developed liver, it cannot filter out
the toxins from the alcohol the same as the adult can.
Instead the alcohol circulates in the baby’s blood
system. It can destroy brain cells and damage the
nervous system of the foetus at any point during the
nine months of pregnancy.
What effect does alcohol have? The effects can be
mild or severe, ranging from reduced intellectual ability
and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) to heart problems
and even death. Many children experience serious
behavioural and social difficulties that last a lifetime.
Although alcohol can affect the development of cells
and organs, the brain and nervous systems are
particularly vulnerable. The neurological brain damage
that is caused may have a number of invisible
characteristics in babies born with FASD, which include:
• Attention deficits
• Memory deficits
• Speech and Language skills deficits
• Hyperactivity
• Difficulty with abstract concepts (eg maths, time and money)
• Poor problem-solving skills
• Difficulty learning from consequences
• Confused social skills

No alcohol is the best and safest choice
There are also a number of possible physical effects
including:
• Smaller head circumference
• Heart problems
• Limb damage
• Kidney damage
• Damage to the structure of the brain
• Eye problems
• Hearing problems
• Specific facial characteristics
baby by avoiding alcohol. As a Healthcare Professional,
if you suspect a pregnant woman might be drinking
alcohol, early intervention is the most effective way of
improving the outcome for both mother and baby.
An empathetic, non-judgemental approach encourages
a positive response.
Visit www.nofas-uk.org/ for further information on
FASD and Alcohol and pregnancy.
Alcohol &
Pregnancy
Information for Health Professionals
FASD
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
How many people are affected? The incidence of
FASD in the United Kingdom and internationally is not
accurately known. Many children born with FASD are
not diagnosed, or do not receive a correct diagnosis,
which makes calculating the prevalence of the condition
extremely difficult.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 1
in 100 babies is born with alcohol-related damage.
Advice for pregnant women: There is no proven safe
level for alcohol consumption during pregnancy; the only
risk-free approach is to avoid alcohol completely.
At any stage of pregnancy, a woman can benefit her
The Western Health and Social Care Trust would like
to thank NOFAS for the contribution of information to
this leaflet.
Design and illustration: Michael @ Western Trust, Health
Improvement Department