|
|
There are a number of risks to your developing baby if you drink alcohol when pregnant.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is the name for the range of harms caused by alcohol use during pregnancy. These harms can include brain damage, vision and hearing problems, slow growth, and birth defects, such as bones that are not properly formed and heart problems.
Brain damage can mean that your child will have lifelong learning disabilities and problems with memory, reasoning and judgment.
It is safest not to drink at all when you are pregnant or when you are planning on becoming pregnant.
It is known that alcohol can harm the baby, but exactly how much alcohol it takes to cause the harm is not known.
The potential harm to the developing baby is influenced by the following factors:
There is no safe time to drink alcohol during pregnancy. The baby's brain and nervous system develop all throughout pregnancy.
All drinks with alcohol can be harmful to your developing baby. Alcohol is in beer, wine, hard liquor, coolers and ciders.
Drinking more than two drinks on any one-day, and drinking regularly are the most harmful. A drink means a can of beer (350 ml/12 oz), a glass of wine (150/ml/5 oz), or a shot of hard liquor (40 ml/1.5 oz).
It is not uncommon that pregnant women drink alcohol before knowing they are pregnant, given that over 50 per cent of births in Canada are not planned. Even if you did drink, it is important to know that it is never too late to stop drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
Quitting drinking now and looking after your own health are the best ways to reduce the risk of harm to your baby.
As well as not drinking alcohol, there are other steps you can take to be healthy and to protect your developing baby, including:
Some women find it hard to talk about their alcohol use with their health care providers. It can help to write down your questions before your visit. It may also be helpful to bring a support person with you such as a friend, partner, or community support worker. Getting regular medical care is an important step. Even if you are still drinking alcohol, know that all the efforts you are making to take care of your health - such as getting medical care - are important.
Partners, families and friends play an important role in supporting women to cut down or stop drinking during pregnancy. Support can be provided in a number of different ways:
Communicate
Assist
Encourage
There are a variety of services to support you, such as pregnancy outreach programs, maternity care clinics, and alcohol and drug counselling services. Contact your local public health unit to find out about services in your area.
If you need help from an alcohol counselor, you can call the Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service. Ask for information on where counseling is available in your area. In Greater Vancouver, call 604-660-9382, and outside Greater Vancouver, call toll-free 1-800-663-1441.
Pregnancy Outreach Programs are available to support pregnant women to have healthy babies in over 45 communities across BC. To find a Pregnancy Outreach Program in your area, visit the BC Association of Pregnancy Outreach Programs Web site at www.bcapop.ca, or call your local public health unit.
English