10 Characteristics of a Child With Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

There are few things more detrimental to the development of a fetus than alcohol consumption. Along with drug use and smoking, alcohol is one of the most damaging things to the developmental process of your child. As such, doctors will discourage drinking in pregnant women. There are many things that could go wrong with the developmental process of your baby if you drink alcohol, and one such issue is known as fetal alcohol syndrome.

There are many things that will tell you and your doctor whether or not your child has fetal alcohol syndrome. Today we’re going to go over the eight most common characteristics of children who suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome. Bear in mind the fact that these are not the only characteristics or symptoms, just some of the most common ones. Even if your child only has one of these symptoms, it’s imperative that you get them tested on the off chance that it is fetal alcohol syndrome.

1. Small head

One of the most common symptoms that you’ll find in children with fetal alcohol syndrome is an irregularly small head. This is likely due to the fact that alcohol impairs the growth process while the fetus is in the womb leading to a smaller head size upon birth in comparison to most other babies. When the mother drinks alcohol during pregnancy, nutrients have a tougher getting to the fetus which leads to growth deficiencies.

Some scientists have also suggested that the unusually small cranial size might be due to the fact that the fetus isn’t getting enough oxygen — seeing alcohol consumption in pregnant mothers also impairs the oxygen flow to the fetus. It’s important to note that other diseases such as the Zika virus could also lead to small heads, so you can’t diagnose fetal alcohol syndrome based on this characteristic alone. The best thing to do is get a proper checkup with your pediatrician.