Dr Maggie Watts, vice chairman on alcohol for the Scottish Association of Alcohol and Drug Action Teams, suggests that moderate drinking during pregnancy could be “the hidden cause” of autism, attention deficity hyperactive disorder (ADHD), and other neurodevelopmental disorders in children. In particular, Dr. Watts makes the point that some children who have Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder(FASD) may be “misdiagnosed” with autism or a neurodevelopmental disorder; she notes that up to one in 100 Scots children – as many as 9,000 – could be suffering from FASD, whose symptoms include physical, mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications. Notes the November 18th The Scotsman:
Official advice from Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer states that it is safest if no alcohol is consumed during pregnancy. However, controversial draft guidance from the health watchdog, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, states that after the first three months of pregnancy, women can consume up to 1.5 units per day.
Last week a review of existing research, conducted by Oxford University, found “no convincing evidence” that binge-drinking could harm the foetus.
Yet a recent study on low-level drinking by scientists at Bristol University found that women having as little as one drink per week had children with mental health problems.
Susan Fleischer, founder of the National Organisation on Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, said: “It is our experience that children are diagnosed with things like autism or attention deficit disorder before they get a diagnosis of foetal alcohol syndrome. A lot of children are misdiagnosed.”
It is thought that alcohol crosses the placenta and that the fetus is not able to process the alcohol: While alcohol is cleared from the mother’s body in twelve hours, a fetus is “is exposed for up to 72 hours because it does not have a properly developed liver.”For the record, this theory of autism causation is not the cause of my son being autistic: I drank no alcohol, and no coffee or anything with caffeine it in, throughout my pregnancy and during the thirteen months that I breastfed Charlie. In fact, I was scrupulous in following the suggestions of the doctor and the baby books for what to eat, etc., while expecting; a friend’s mother noted the same of her.
My mother had me at 38 she drank a lot always..I was the last of 8 kids.
My parents hated me and did not want me.. (she gave two kids away)
Yeah.. like trailor trash… They always said I was not very smart..
And I have had a very hard life..I am amazed that I made it at all,
I see now that all of my life I have been somewhat Autistic in all of my
ideas.. Repititions, isolation. unable to learn anything that I cannot
fit into a pattern..and stuck on certain sounds and numbers.. Especially
socially. I hate small talk. I like to be left alone, and I do not
trust anyone.. I am now 72 and I finally figured out why my life has
been so dammed difficult and I have been so stupid and naive..I guess
I am just glad I have what I do although it has been very hard with no
love or caring from anyone.. other than people who used me for their gain.
I know you hate me for writting this..
I was married briefly to a man who did understand me, he died of cancer.
My heart is broken.. and I cry alot.. but at least I can be alone when I
want to.
[...] alcohol during pregnancy, today’s Times notes. This topic has come up before: Back in November, it was reported that moderate drinking during pregnancy could be “the hidden cause” of autism, [...]
My understanding of the article is that Dr. Watts was saying that some children with FASD may have been mis-diagnosed with ASD. I believe this to be the case in Australia because our health professionals have not been trained to diagnose FASD and the symptoms of ASD are very similar.
However, I am definitely not suggesting that parents of children with ASD drank alcohol during pregnancy.
Also, for those that are interested some further facts:
Only 10-20% of children with FASD will have distinguishing facial features – the others just have hidden brain or other physical damage.
It is important to have a correct diagnosis because FASD is preventable and also, if the child does have FASD there may also be other underlying physical defects in organs such as the heart, kidneys or liver.
Addressing alcohol use in pregnancy is nothing to do with laying blame or raising guilt in pregnant women – it is about giving information that enables them to make informed choice.
Many women might say they didn’t drink in pregnancy but some of the greatest harm caused by alcohol occurs before the women knows she is pregnant and so even though she stops drinking as soon as the pregnancy is confirmed and therefore considers she definitely didn’t drink in pregnancy the damage could have alread been done. That is why education is so important.
Not every woman who drinks during pregnancy necessarily causes harm – what must be remembered is that every woman is different – some will drink only once during pregnancy and cause harm, others may drink many times and cause no harm.
I encourage every woman of child bearing age to learn more about alcohol’s possible effects during pregnancy – no one knows which fetus and which mother is going to suffer the poison effects of alcohol.
The only responsible message in pregnancy is no alcohol = no risk.