This chart shows vulnerability of the Fetal Development Chart fetus to defects throughout pregnancy. Period of the Ovum Period of the Embryo Period of the Fetus Weeks Weeks 1-2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 12 Week 16 20-36 Week 38 • = Most common site of birth defects
Central Nervous System (CNS)- Brain and Spinal Cord Heart Arms/Legs Eyes Teeth Palate External Genitalia Ears Period of development when major defects in bodily structure can occur. National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS) 2009, Adapted from Moore, 1993
Period of development when functional defects and minor structural defects can occur.
www.niaaa.nih.gov
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and Abuse Alcohol on Institute National
March of Dimes www.marchofdimes.com Dimes of March
Alcoholics Anonymous www.aa.org Anonymous Alcoholics
www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or call 800-622-HELP (4357) 800-622-HELP call or www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov
Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator, Locator, Facility Treatment Abuse Substance
(NCADD) www.ncadd.org or call 800-NCA-CALL (622-2255) (622-2255) 800-NCA-CALL call or www.ncadd.org (NCADD)
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Dependence Drug and Alcoholism on Council National
www.nofas.org or call 800-66-NOFAS (66327) 800-66-NOFAS call or www.nofas.org
National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS) Syndrome Alcohol Fetal on Organization National
www.fasdcenter.samhsa.gov
Administration (SAMHSA) FASD Center for Excellence Excellence for Center FASD (SAMHSA) Administration
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Services Health Mental and Abuse Substance
www.cdc.gov/fasd or call 800-CDC-INFO call or www.cdc.gov/fasd
Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities Developmental and Defects Birth on Center
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National National Prevention’s and Control Disease for Centers
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The organizations and resources below can provide provide can below resources and organizations The Helpful Resources Helpful
ALCOHOL and PREGNANCY : Why Take the Risk?
Stop drinking when you start trying. What are FASDs? What causes FASDs?
• Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause a range • Alcohol in the mother’s blood passes to the baby through of birth defects including physical and intellectual the umbilical cord so when a pregnant woman drinks disabilities that can last a lifetime. These problems are alcohol, her developing baby also drinks. known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). • Since every pregnancy is different, drinking alcohol • You might have heard of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) may hurt one baby more than another. which is one condition under the FASD spectrum. A • The baby’s brain, body and organs are developing baby born with FAS has a small head, weighs less than throughout pregnancy and can be affected by other babies and has distinct facial features. exposure to alcohol at any time. • Some of the behavioral and intellectual disabilities for people with FASDs include: “In over twenty years of working on • learning disabilities FASD prevention, I have never met a • hyperactivity • difficulty paying attention mom who intentionally wanted to harm • speech and language delays her unborn baby. Either she didn’t • low IQ know that alcohol was harmful during • poor reasoning and judgment skills pregnancy or she needed help to • People born with FASDs can also have problems with their organs including the heart and kidneys. stop drinking.” - Kathy Mitchell Vice President and National Spokesperson National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome(NOFAS)
Are some types of alcohol, such as red wine, Why should I worry about alcohol use if I am safer to drink during pregnancy than others? not pregnant and not trying to get pregnant?
• Drinking any type of alcohol can affect your baby’s • If you drink alcohol and do not use birth control when growth and development and cause FASDs. you have sex, you might get pregnant and expose your baby to alcohol before you know you are pregnant. • Red wine is no safer than white wine, beer or mixed drinks. • A 4-ounce glass of red or white wine has the same amount • Nearly half of all pregnancies in the United States are of alcohol as a 12-ounce can of beer or a 1-ounce shot of unplanned. And, many women do not know they straight liquor. are pregnant right away. So, if you are not trying to get pregnant but you are having sex, use birth • Some drinks, like mixed alcoholic drinks or malt liquor control consistently. drinks, may have more alcohol in them than a 12-ounce can of beer. What if I drank before I knew I was pregnant? U.S. standard drink equivalents • Make sure you get regular prenatal checkups. Tell 2-3 oz. your healthcare provider you have been drinking and 12 oz. 8-9 oz. 3-4 oz. of of cordial of beer or of malt 5 oz. of fortified liqueur , 1.5 oz. 1.5 oz. ask for advice. cooler liquor table wine wine or apertif of brandy of spirits • Remember, it is never too late to stop drinking. Since 8.5 oz. shown in ( such as sherry or ( a single jigger of a 12-oz. glass that port) 3.5 oz. shown 2.5 oz. shown (a single jigger) 80-proof gin, vodka, brain growth takes place throughout pregnancy, the if full, would hold whiskey, etc.) Shown about 1.5 standard straight and in a sooner you stop drinking the safer it will be for you drinks of malt liquor highball glass with and your baby. ice to show a level before adding mixer
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Is it okay to drink a little during pregnancy? If I drank when I was pregnant does that Are there some times during pregnancy that mean my baby will have an FASD? are safer than other times to drink? • Every pregnancy is different and alcohol can affect • There is no guaranteed safe level of alcohol use during unborn babies in different ways. Some problems your pregnancy or when you are trying to get pregnant. are more obvious than others and some children • There is also no safe time to drink when you are show more effects than others. pregnant. Alcohol can cause problems for your • If you drank any amount of alcohol while you were unborn baby throughout your pregnancy, pregnant, talk with your child’s health care provider including before you know you are pregnant. as soon as possible and share your concerns.
Is it okay to drink alcohol if I am • You may not know right away if your child has been trying to get pregnant? affected. FASDs include a range of physical and intellectual disabilities that are not always easy to • You might be pregnant and not know it yet. You probably identify when a child is a newborn. Some of these effects won’t know you are pregnant for up to 4 to 6 weeks. This may not be known until your child is in school. means you might be drinking and expose your developing baby to alcohol without meaning to. • There is no cure for FASDs. However, identifying children with these conditions as early as possible can • The best advice is to stop drinking when you start help them to reach their full potential. trying to get pregnant.
The best choice is not to drink at all when you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.