Fetal alcohol syndrome

[Scarlett]

My friend has just given birth to a little boy. She drank SOME alcohol during her pregnancy but didn't binge. She is complaining that the baby seems angry. She had a difficult birth with the baby getting stuck and being limp and unresponsive at first and now they are in hospital for a week for observation. Would FAS be diagnosed at birth or is it normal for new born babies to be cross etc?!

[amonty1144]

It would be unusual to diagnose FAS at birth, however full blown FAS is unusual, you can get some other symptoms.
Here is a list of full symptoms but would usually be diagnosed later.
low birth weight
small head circumference
failure to thrive
developmental delay
organ dysfunction
facial abnormalities, including smaller eye openings, flattened cheekbones, and indistinct philtrum (an underdeveloped groove between the nose and the upper lip)
epilepsy
poor coordination/fine motor skills
poor socialization skills, such as difficulty building and maintaining friendships and relating to groups
lack of imagination or curiosity
learning difficulties, including poor memory, inability to understand concepts such as time and money, poor language comprehension, poor problem-solving skills
behavioral problems, including hyperactivity, inability to concentrate, social withdrawal, stubbornness, impulsiveness, and anxiety

These tend to get worse as children age.

[jno]

some babies are angry... just the way it is, though tough luck for mothers who have to cope with a lot of crying. No doubt they'll check out possible reasons. But women have been drinking in pregnancy, in moderation, for decades and I don't think this really produces birth defects.

[Reverandfunk]

I agree with JNO

[Pippa68]

My first baby got stuck too...and was a very angry baby!

She was taken for physiotherapy on her head..she had a sort of manipulation performed and became much happier afterwards.

Birth is traumatic for babies, especially if it doesn't go to plan and they get stuck. Many babies suffer from a long term headache after birth ~ imagine how you feel when you have a headache which won't go away... :o(

I don't think your friends baby has FAS.

[sense4all]

http://www.cranial.org.uk/page3.html

this might help ot is a link to a Cranial Osteopathy site.

[Pippa68]

That was the term I was trying to think of, sense..I was on a 'thick' day yesterday!

Thanks for the link :o)