Pregnant or Trying to be? When it comes to Alcohol-Zero Matters!

Perth County – The Rethink Your Drinking campaign is marking International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day, which is celebrated each year on the ninth day of the ninth month, with the message that “Zero Matters” when it comes to alcohol and pregnancy.

The message that it is unsafe to drink alcohol while pregnant is not a new one. However, prenatal exposure to alcohol remains a leading cause of preventable birth defects and developmental delay in Canadian children. It is important for all women who are or may become pregnant to know that there is no safe time to drink alcohol during pregnancy, and no safe amount or type of alcohol to drink.

“Parents want the healthiest baby possible and having an alcohol-free pregnancy is a great start,” says Annette Hoyles, Public Health Promoter. “We want women to know that it’s best to stop drinking before you get pregnant, and it’s also never too late to stop. The earlier you stop, the greater the chance of having a healthy baby.”

Birth defects associated with alcohol use can occur in the first 3 to 8 weeks of pregnancy, before a woman may even know that she is pregnant. “Not drinking at all during pregnancy is the only way to guarantee that your new baby will not suffer any consequences from exposure to alcohol,” says Hoyles.

FASD refers to a broad range of defects and disabilities that are caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Some of the permanent birth defects and brain damage may include: vision and hearing difficulties; bones, limbs and fingers that are not formed properly; damage to the heart, kidney, liver and other organs; slow growth; learning disabilities; hyperactivity; and difficulty with attention and memory.

Many pregnancies are not planned, meaning that some women may have drunk alcohol before they knew they were pregnant. Anyone with concerns or questions can make a confidential phone call to Motherisk at 1-877-327-4636 or visit www.motherisk.org.

Rethink Your Drinking is a campaign to help change the way we think about and use alcohol. To learn more, visit www.rethinkyourdrinking.ca or call Health Line at 519-271-7600 ext 267 or toll-free at 1-877-271-7348 ext 267.

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