Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

About Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disease
- What is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disease or FASD?
  - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum is a lifelong disease that only occurs in people if their mother drank alcohol while she was pregnant.
    
    There is no gene for FASD! This means that a mother who was born with FASD cannot pass it to on her child-as long as she does not drink while she is pregnant.
    
    When a pregnant mother drinks, the alcohol circulates in the baby's body much longer than in the mother's. While in the baby's body the alcohol, which is toxic, can destroy brain cells and can damage other developing organs.
    
    There is a wide range of FASD problems. Some are more extreme than others. The word "spectrum" is used to describe the disease because people born with FASD can have any of a range of physical and mental-health related issues:
    
    -  Emotional problems;
    -  Learning problems;
    -  Poor decision-making skills;
    -  Harmful behaviour; and
    -  Facial alterations.
    
    Bottom line: Alcohol causes brain damage in the developing baby. There is no safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy. There is no safe time to drink alcohol during pregnancy.
    
    The good news is, FASD can be avoided if the mother does not drink at any stage during pregnancy - Friends and family can play an important role in helping a pregnant mother to make the right choice for herself and her baby. (See Question 9 for tips and suggestions on how you can help a pregnant friend or family member.)
- Can FASD be cured?
  - FASD cannot be cured;
    
    Children with FASD have permanent brain damage. They cannot grow out of FASD. They will have it for life;
    
    People born with FASD can have a hard time learning and remembering new things.
    
    They may not understand that their actions may be harmful to themselves or to others; and
    
    People with FASD, depending on the severity of the disease, can live a productive life. But they may need special supports and services such as:
    
    -  special education;
    -  vocational programs;
    -  tutors;
    -  well-structured, consistent environments; and
    -  lifelong care.
How can I find out if I am Pregnant?
- What should I do if I think I might be pregnant?
  - You are not alone. More than half of all pregnancies are unplanned.
    
    If you think you might be pregnant, get a pregnancy test right away.
    
    Most of the damage to a baby's brain, and other organs, happens when the mother drinks in early pregnancy-when she may not even know she's pregnant.
- Where can I get a pregnancy test?
  - Pregnancy testing may be available at a local hospital or clinic.
    
    If you live in or near St. John's, the Sexual Health Centre has a lab-quality urine test. If your period is late by at least a day or two, then this test should provide reliable results in just four or five minutes.
    
    You can also buy a home pregnancy test at a local pharmacy or drugstore. But these home pregnancy tests may not detect a pregnancy as early as lab-quality tests.
    
    Home pregnancy tests might give you a false negative if you are very early in your pregnancy.
    
    So, even if the first home test is negative, you might still be pregnant. Avoid drinking for a few days and do the test again. This will help you to be sure that the result is a true negative.
    
    However, if the home test is positive, you can be reasonably sure that it is right, and you are pregnant.
    
    A family doctor can also detect pregnancy through a physical exam or by sending you for blood tests.
- How much does a pregnancy test cost?
  - Pregnancy tests provided by your doctor or by local clinics or hospitals are free;
    
    Pregnancy tests from the drugstore will vary in price from $10-$20; and
    
    The Sexual Health Centre in St. John's will provide a pregnancy test for a $10 donation. But no one is refused a test, whether or not they can make the donation.
What can I do if I am Pregnant?
- Is there a safe amount of alcohol to drink if I am pregnant?
  - There is no safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy.
    
    There is no safe time to drink alcohol during pregnancy.
    
    The developing brain of a baby is very sensitive to alcohol. And, because the brain and the central nervous system are developing all through the pregnancy, the baby's brain is always in danger of damage from alcohol in its blood.
    
    No one knows how much alcohol it takes to cause damage to the developing baby's brain.
    
    Research shows that if a woman has one drink a day while pregnant her baby may develop behaviour and learning problems as a child.
    
    Drinking a lot of alcohol in a short amount of time-binge drinking - is especially damaging to the developing fetus.
    
    Stopping or cutting down on the amount of alcohol you drink while pregnant will help reduce damage to the baby BUT
    
    No alcohol during pregnancy is the best choice (and the safest!) for having a healthy baby.
    
    If you are planning a pregnancy OR if you are not using reliable birth control, then your best option is to avoid alcohol.
    
    If you know a friend or family member is pregnant, and you are concerned that they may be drinking alcohol, you can help her to protect her baby by getting advice from health professionals. (See Question 9 for tips and suggestions on how you can help a pregnant friend or family member).
- Where can I go for help?
  - If you are concerned that you might be pregnant and that you might need support to stop drinking alcohol, there are many people who can help you to help yourself and your baby.
    
    No matter where you live in the province, there are several ways you can find the help you need:
    
    -  Talk to the guidance counselor in your school;
    
    -  Call or visit you local Addictions Counselling Office and ask to speak to a counselor. The hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday (For St. John's and area call 752-4919);
    
    -  If you don't know the number or location of your local Addictions Counselling Office, look on the first page of the telephone book under Community Services for the Addiction Services number or visit their website .
    
    -  The Sexual Health Centre has a website that you may find helpful.
    
    -  You can visit your local Community Health Office.
    
    -  You can visit the local hospital or public health clinic;
    
    -  After hours, call the Mental Health Crisis Center at 1-888-737-4668.
    
    -  For more info, visit www.getuponit.ca
- Is there a confidential toll free number I can call?
  - Provincial Health Line :
    
    1-888-709-2929
    
    TTY 1-888-709-3555
Helping a pregnant friend or family member
- What can I do if I suspect a pregnant friend or family member is drinking alcohol?
  - No matter where you live in the province, there are several ways you can find the help you need:
    
    A good place to start is the guidance counselor in your school. Talk to the counselor about your concerns. She or he can help your friend get the help she needs.
    
    Call or visit you local Addictions Counselling Office and ask to speak to a counselor. (For St. John's and area call 752-4919); Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday
    
    If you don't know the number or location of your local addictions counselling office, look on page one of the telephone book under Community Services for the Addiction Services number or visit their website ;
    
    After hours, call the Mental Health Crisis Center at 1-888-737-4668.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disease FAQs: