FASD PREVENTION IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY
Partners, family, friends, and community members can all help a pregnant woman not to drink during pregnancy.
There is NO SAFE TIME to drink alcohol during pregnancy.
We know that a baby’s brain is very sensitive to alcohol while it is developing. Research about the exact amount of alcohol it takes to cause brain damage is ongoing and uncertain. Every case is different and just because you consumed alcohol during pregnancy does not mean you will automatically have a child with FASD.
Many factors affect the amount of damage from alcohol to the unborn baby.
Some of the factors include how well she is nourished (the type of food she eats), and her genetic make-up including her ability to metabolize (digest) alcohol. Binge drinking has been found to be the most damaging form of alcohol consumption on a baby’s development.
It is easy to become confused.
You or your friends might have used alcohol during another pregnancy and those children seem perfectly healthy. Newborns don’t always show the effects caused by alcohol right away. It can take a few years before you see the problems. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant the safest choice is to drink no alcohol at all and prevent unintended fetal alcohol exposure.
Maybe you are pregnant now.
Maybe you are pregnant now and still drinking but it is never too late to quit or cut down. Both you and your baby will benefit. If you are finding it difficult to avoid alcohol during your pregnancy and need assistance, please contact NEAFAN’s PCAP program. Partners, family, friends, and community members can all help a pregnant woman not to drink during pregnancy.
