About FASD
Alcohol use in pregnancy affects every woman and fetus differently.
In some cases, drinking alcohol while pregnant increases the likelihood that
a baby is born with an alcohol-related disability.
The FASD Facts
Health Canada estimates 1% of the population is affected by one of three conditions that fall under the umbrella of FASD:
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
- Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS)
- Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND)
Though the severity of FASD varies between individuals, all those diagnosed experience some combination of lifelong physical, learning, social and emotional disabilities.
Effects of FASD
People who live with FASD experience a wide range of effects including:
- Growth delays
- Intellectual disabilities
- Birth defects
- Characteristic facial features like small eyes, smooth philtrum (area between the nose and upper lip) and a thin upper lip
- Lower IQ
- Difficulty learning
- Memory problems
- Difficulty with abstract reasoning
- Hyperactivity or attention problems
- Lack of social skills
- Communication problems
- Limited sensory motor function
The following factors influence the effect alcohol will have on a pregnancy:
- Frequency of consumption
- Amount and timing of alcohol consumed
- Mother’s age and overall health
- Use of other drugs
- The baby’s genetics
The spectrum of brain differences caused by FASD varies from person to person and no two people are affected the same way by alcohol.
Because of that, the most important thing to remember is that there is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy.