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Saskatchewan Prevention Institute
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    • Scheduled This Month

      • The Home Safety Workshop for Professionals who Support Families

        September 20, 2023 @ 1:00 pm. – 4:30 pm.

      • Using Motivational Interviewing to Engage Youth

        September 21, 2023 @ 10:00 am. – 3:00 pm.

      • Let’s Talk Alcohol

        September 22, 2023 @ 11:00 am. – 12:30 pm.

      • Developmental Considerations for Young Children in Care

        September 26, 2023 @ 1:30 pm. – 3:00 pm.

    • Scheduled Next Month

      • Parenting Matters Conference

        October 11, 2023 @ 9:00 am. – 3:30 pm.

      • Introductory Online Motivational Interviewing Training

        October 12, 2023 @ 1:00 pm. – 4:00 pm.

      • Human Trafficking: Prevention and Intervention

        October 17, 2023 @ 10:00 am. – 11:30 am.

      • Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation (CAPE): Results for Saskatchewan

        October 26, 2023 @ 1:30 pm. – 2:30 pm.

      • Family Diversities and Family Demographics Across Canada

        October 31, 2023 @ 1:00 pm. – 2:30 pm.

      View All Scheduled

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      • The Home Safety Workshop for Professionals who Support Families

        September 20, 2023 @ 1:00 pm. – 4:30 pm.

      • Supporting Children with Autism: Diagnosis, ASD Information, and Strategies

        June 13, 2023 @ 1:30 pm. – 2:30 pm.

      • Mental Health During the Perinatal Period: Helpful Strategies for Community Members and Practitioners

        May 31, 2023 @ 10:00 am. – 11:30 am.

      • Healthy Prenatal Development and Its Impact on the Early Years

        March 14, 2023 @ 1:30 pm. – 3:00 pm.

      • How Early Attachment Relationships Impact Brain Development and What We Can Do

        February 28, 2023 @ 1:30 pm. – 3:00 pm.

      • Supporting Children with Big Emotions & Challenging Behaviours

        January 31, 2023 @ 1:30 pm. – 2:30 pm.

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Up to 4% of Canadians have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Preventing FASD is more complex than recommending no alcohol use in pregnancy. FASD can happen in any community or group where alcohol is used.

With 1 in 25 Canadians having FASD, chances are you know someone with FASD; a neighbour, a friend, or a relative. You might not even know it. To look at the bigger picture of FASD helps people move away from the shame, blame, stigma, and discrimination of FASD. The best way to make a difference is to support women, individuals with FASD, and their families. Supporting women can include learning about the reasons they may use alcohol in pregnancies.

Each person with FASD has different strengths and challenges. Each person will need different supports. Each person with FASD can have successes.

What is FASD?

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a diagnostic term used to describe impacts on the brain and body of individuals prenatally exposed to alcohol. FASD is a lifelong disability. Individuals with FASD will experience some degree of challenges in their daily living, and need support with motor skills, physical health, learning, memory, attention, communication, emotional regulation, and social skills to reach their full potential. Each individual with FASD is unique and has areas of both strengths and challenges (CanFASD, 2019).

Alcohol is used in pregnancy for many reasons

The reasons a woman may use alcohol before she is pregnant are still there the day the pregnancy test is positive. There are many reasons for prenatal alcohol use, such as:

  • Unplanned pregnancy and alcohol was used before pregnancy confirmation
  • Use of alcohol while planning a pregnancy and until pregnancy is confirmed
  • Depression
  • Partner’s drinking behaviour
  • Drinking is normal in her society/group/community/family/friends
  • Social pressure to drink from families and friends
  • Stigma and being afraid to talk about alcohol use because of shame and blame
  • Abuse
  • Violence
  • Confusing messages about alcohol and pregnancy
  • To cope with trauma or difficult life situations
  • Drinking habit, dependency, or substance use disorder
  • Mental health challenges
  • Not knowing that alcohol can harm the baby
  • Some doctors say that it’s okay to drink a little in pregnancy
  • Knowing other women who drank during pregnancy whose children appear healthy
  • To relax or reduce stress
  • Ways of drinking before becoming pregnant (e.g., risky drinking, drinking every day)
  • Indifference or being unhappy about the pregnancy
  • Family history of alcohol abuse
  • Inadequate or no prenatal care
Shame and blame don’t work

Many people know that it is healthiest for both mother and baby when alcohol is not used in pregnancy. However, many people don’t know that shame and blame do not change the many reasons alcohol might be used during pregnancy. In fact, shame and blame (stigma) are often reasons people don’t ask for help, talk about alcohol use, or go for prenatal care. When we make it easier to talk about prenatal alcohol use, we make it easier for people to get help, be as healthy as possible, and have healthier pregnancies. Removing stigma will make it easier for people to ask for help.

Partners make a difference

It is easier for a pregnant woman to not use alcohol when her partner supports her. This includes a partner not drinking or cutting back on drinking when they are trying to get pregnant, and during the pregnancy. It is also a healthy start for baby when both mom and dad see their healthcare professionals when they decide to have children.

When a woman who is pregnant lives with someone who drinks heavily, she is more likely to use alcohol. It is also harder for a pregnant woman to stop using alcohol if:

  • she is forced to drink by her partner
  • she is abused by her partner
  • she is using alcohol to deal with stress or depression

A father’s alcohol use does not cause FASD. Researchers have found that a father’s alcohol use can cause changes to:

  • his sperm (e.g., how they look, how many, and ability to penetrate the egg)
  • the genes (DNA) he passes on to his baby
  • epigenetics (which genes are turned on or off)

Research also shows that a father’s alcohol use might make the fetus more vulnerable to prenatal alcohol exposure. However, more research is needed in this area.

Alcohol use affects every person and pregnancy differently

Alcohol affects every person’s body differently. Alcohol also affects every fetus (unborn baby) differently. That is why each person with FASD has different strengths and challenges. Here are some reasons:

  • Health of mother (food, exercise, prenatal vitamins, and illnesses)
  • How much alcohol is used at a time (a lot or a little)
  • What part of the baby is developing when alcohol is used
  • DNA (genetics) of mother and father
  • Depression, stress, violence, poverty, or trauma
  • Where she lives, learns, works, and socializes (social determinants of health)
Working together for success for children with FASD (protective factors)

Protective factors for children with FASD include:

  • diagnosis before 6 years of age
  • loving, nurturing, and unchanging home with no violence
  • getting help from special education and social services when needed
  • building on strengths of the child
Faith – Ability – Strength – Determination (Myles Himmelreich)

Myles Himmelreich, a motivational speaker with FASD, gives another view of FASD: Faith, Ability, Strength, and Determination. When raising awareness of FASD, it is better to talk about strengths and challenges. This helps to understand needs and how to provide help. Focusing on problems builds stigma for people with FASD and their families.

Most mothers of children with FASD want to help their children get help. Families that have supports tend to do better. Secondary challenges can be prevented if an individual’s primary disabilities are well supported. Recommendations for supports work best when they consider the child’s specific needs and they line up with the supports that are available in the community.

FASD and the brain

The brain is continually changing and adapting. This is called neuroplasticity. Although areas of the brain may be affected before birth, the brain has an amazing way of working around this. When the brain is affected by alcohol prenatally, it may not work the way that it might have worked if it wasn’t exposed. It may take a lot of practice to learn something in a different way, but the brain can learn new ways of working.

Research is providing hope that effective therapies can have a positive impact on the brain damage caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol.

Alcohol can make changes in fetal development

During pregnancy, alcohol can affect any part of the baby’s developing body. This includes the brain. The brain develops for all 9 months of pregnancy. Alcohol’s effects to the brain and body can happen before a woman knows she is pregnant.

When alcohol affects the brain, it can make a child’s growing and learning harder. Alcohol can cause challenges with:

  • motor skills
  • brain structure and functioning
  • thinking, reasoning, and understanding
  • language
  • achieving educational goals
  • memory
  • attention
  • executive function (ability to plan, pay attention, remember instructions, and manage many tasks), impulse control, and hyperactivity
  • affect regulation (ability to change emotions to meet the demands of the environment), including anxiety, depression, and mood dysregulation (severe and frequent outbursts with change of mood between the outbursts)
  • adaptive behaviour (ability to change behaviour to get along with others), social skills, or social communication

Other parts of the baby that are developing when alcohol is used can be affected. There may be problems with:

  • hearing
  • seeing
  • sleeping
  • feeding
  • heart, kidneys, bones
Reducing harm

It is never too late to reduce harm by quitting drinking or cutting back on drinking. It is not easy to stop drinking if it is a habit or a dependency. Working on changes before pregnancy can make it easier. When a partner, family, and friends are supportive, it is not as difficult to make changes. Healthcare professionals and counsellors can also help.

What if an unborn baby has been exposed to alcohol?

If a baby has been prenatally exposed to alcohol, talking to a healthcare provider and watching for any physical or developmental challenges can help protect the baby. Putting early supports in place, getting a diagnosis when the time is right, and supporting the family may help prevent some secondary challenges.

How much alcohol is safe to use in pregnancy?

Science shows that alcohol use in pregnancy can affect the unborn baby. There is not enough evidence to show a safe amount of alcohol use. The safest choice is no alcohol.

Ideas for women to help have a healthy baby
  • Take prenatal vitamins before and during pregnancy. They help keep you and your baby healthy.
  • Use birth control that works well if you are having sex and do not want a baby now.
  • If you and your partner think you might be pregnant, get a pregnancy test. Do your best to not use alcohol until you know you are not pregnant.
  • If you are pregnant, do your best to not use alcohol.
  • Partners, family, and friends can support women to be healthy.
For help, talk to:
  • a doctor, nurse, or health centre
  • Saskatchewan HealthLine at 811
  • addictions services where you live
  • someone who you trust

These people are here to support everyone’s health: mothers, fathers, and babies.

For more information:
  • www.canfasd.ca
  • Language Guide: Promoting dignity for those impacted by FASD
  • Common Messages: Guidelines for talking and writing about FASD
  • Myles Himmelreich

Science shows that alcohol use in pregnancy can affect the unborn baby. There is not enough evidence to show a safe amount of alcohol use. The safest choice is no alcohol.

FASD: Let’s change the conversation References
Download References
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Alcohol Affects Every Persons Body and Every Pregnancy Differently
Alcohol Affects Every Persons Body and Every Pregnancy Differently
Approximately 4% of Canadians have FASD
Approximately 4% of Canadians have FASD
Did You Know
Did You Know
Faith Ability Strength Determination
Faith Ability Strength Determination
FASD Can Happen in Any Community or Group Where Alcohol Is Used
FASD Can Happen in Any Community or Group Where Alcohol Is Used
Fathers Play an Important Role in Supporting Healthy Pregnancies and Raisng Healthy Children
Fathers Play an Important Role in Supporting Healthy Pregnancies and Raisng Healthy Children
How Have You Changed Your Drinking to Support a Pregnant Partner or Friend
How Have You Changed Your Drinking to Support a Pregnant Partner or Friend
How Have You Supported Alcohol Free Pregnancies
How Have You Supported Alcohol Free Pregnancies
Reasons for Alcohol Use in Pregnancy
Reasons for Alcohol Use in Pregnancy
Shame and Blame
Shame and Blame
Shared Responsibility
Shared Responsibility
Some Women Don't Know
Some Women Don't Know
Support Healthy Pregnancies
Support Healthy Pregnancies
Supporting People with Mental Health and Addiction Challenges Helps Prevent FASD
Supporting People with Mental Health and Addiction Challenges Helps Prevent FASD
Using Alcohol Can Affect the Fetus Even Before the Pregnancy Is Confirmed
Using Alcohol Can Affect the Fetus Even Before the Pregnancy Is Confirmed
We Can Make a Difference
We Can Make a Difference
What Mental Health and Addictions Supports Are in Your Area
What Mental Health and Addictions Supports Are in Your Area
When People with Fasd Know Their Strengths and Challenges They Can Understand What Supports They May Need
When People with Fasd Know Their Strengths and Challenges They Can Understand What Supports They May Need
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