On the ninth day of the ninth month (Sept. 9), communities around the world work to raise awareness of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder, FASD. The chosen day hints that this is a problem related to pregnancy - it is.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder is the name for the range of harms caused by alcohol use during pregnancy.
Some of these include brain damage, vision and hearing problems, birth defects such as bones not properly formed, and heart problems.
FASD itself is an umbrella term used to describe the range of disabilities that can affect babies who are exposed to alcohol while in the womb.
FASD is common, affecting nine in 1,000 live births, or about 3,000 babies per year in Canada. It is typically diagnosed after behavioural or learning problems are identified. In some cases, there will be physical signs but this is not common.
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause brain damage to a developing fetus resulting in life-long problems with attention, memory, reasoning and judgment.
Also associated with FASD is a range of secondary disabilities including mental health problems, drug or alcohol addictions, disrupted school experience, joblessness and homelessness, and involvement with the law.
We know that consuming alcohol during pregnancy can harm the baby. However, we do not know how much alcohol it takes to cause harm, or when it is most likely to occur.
Heavy drinking during pregnancy is clearly the most likely to cause harm to the fetus, to say nothing of the woman's health.
While it is not possible to know a safe level of drinking for any particular woman, clearly excessive consumption is more likely to lead to FASD. The only certainty is that there is no safe time to drink alcohol during pregnancy.
The developing brain and nervous system are at risk at all times.
FASD cannot be "cured." It is a condition that is permanent: an individual with FASD will process information differently, have difficulty understanding abstract concepts and consequences, and may have delayed social maturity.
It can be easy to say "This is not my problem" or "We're not having kids so no problem." But that is not entirely true.
There are also social and economic costs, from added medical services to special education requirements. Add to that the legal and societal costs if FASD leads to problems with the law.
As a community there are things we can do to help. The simplest is to spread the word that it is not safe to drink during pregnancy. Friends and family members can all help a pregnant woman not to drink during pregnancy.
If you work with women, learn about the services in your community that can support women in avoiding alcohol. Liquor stores and bars can assist by having posters or signs with information about FASD.
They can also ensure their menus include non-alcoholic options beyond just soft drinks.
FASD is a permanent diagnosis. It is not something that can be medicated away or ignored. But it can be prevented: just avoid all alcohol while pregnant, or if you might become pregnant.
Dr. Paul Martiquet is the Medical Health Officer for the Sea to Sky.
