Fetal alcohol syndrome

[Thatsmoneyhoney]

Hi all!

I'm looking for advice/support.

We recently became guardians to a little baby with suspected fetal alcohol syndrome. The reason it is suspected is because his birth parents didn't attend midwife apps during the pregnancy so it was unknown if the mother was consuming alcohol. But he displays alot of the physical features and we have noticed a few things as he is growing.
I have contacted our GP for referrals to get him the support he needs but I am looking for advice/support from people who have also been through this with their children. He is 10 months old and still isn't hitting any gross motor skill milestones. He isn't sitting without support. He doesn't roll over so obviously isn't anywhere near crawling or pulling himself up on furniture. He has however developed well with fine motor skills and can grasp toys etc and he has taken to weaning really well and enjoys self feeding the Ella's kitchen melty sticks etc. He's so happy in himself. He laughs, smiles and engages with eye contact etc.
Another major concern I have is he is extremely sensitive to noise. For example if I sneeze suddenly or if my 3 yr old drops a toy it'll make him scream and it's hard to settle him. It breaks my heart to see him so upset. He's also the same with temperature. His bath has to be exactly 37 degrees and the same with his food and milk. It has to be the right temperature or it'll really upset him.
Has anyone experienced similar or can give me advice on what other things to look out for?
I just want to prepare myself and to be the best parent I can and ensure he has the right support.

I have no experience but just wanted to bump this for you.

Have you had a look at the "Adoption/Fostering" section? You probably haven't got a formal arrangement just yet but there are bound to be MNers in there with experience

Thank you. Will post on the adoption section :)

Some babies are sensitive to noise. My niece is sensitive to noise and my third dc is too...but she has mostly outgrown it I think due to the fact she is a third born and had to get used to the noise, plus we have a dog. She used to cry when she was a newborn if someone sneezed. It would startle her...she used to notice for example if there was an ambulance outside she would suddenly get a look and want to come hug me and I would realise it was because she heard the ambulance. I would give her a cuddle and keep telling her it was the ambulance (would show her in the book ambulance and if we saw one outside). Now she seems to be fine with all of these things at almost two years old. The only loud noise she still needs a bit of comfort is if we hear a loud helicopter...she then comes close to me and needs a cuddle. But everything else she seems to be used to. I am not sure why some dc are more sensitve to noise. As a new born she would wake if someone turned the light switch on down the hall! We had to get a noise machine in her room to help drown out any random noises that might wake her.

It may take a little time with you before he reaches those milestones...perhaps his parents just left him and did not encourage him or engage with him. Hopefully, he gets the support he needs and sorry I do not have much advice to give, other then for the noise thing and giving comfort.

Thank you for your reply mummabear. I hope he grows out of being so sensitive to sound because it's awful to see him so upset and it can take a good half hour sometimes to calm him down. Poor little guy :(

I forgot to add he has been with us since leaving the hospital 10 days old. It's a complicated situation.
We have been encouraging tummy time etc we do all we can to help him and have bought all of the things the health visitor has suggested to strengthen his muscles. He could just be a late developer but I just have a gut feeling it's more than that which is why I've spoken with our GP and waiting for referral app.
His birth parents had drug and alcohol issues which is why there is suspected fetal alcohol syndrome and this has been drummed into us since we agreed to become his carers. Maybe I am just reading too much into the symptoms.
I just want to make sure he gets all the help he needs if he does have it. I pray for his sake he doesn't. But I will still love him the same no matter what the outcome is ❤️