What would happen if you decided to have just a drink or two, and it turned into a six-pack? You could permanently damage your baby. Each time a pregnant woman takes a drink of alcohol, the baby takes four drinks. This causes more damage because babies are smaller and their immune systems are not adequately formed yet. Your baby begins to grow and to develop from the time of conception. There is no known safe amount of alcohol that pregnant women can drink without causing damage to the baby. It is never safe to drink alcohol while pregnant. There is NO cure for FASD!
Things that could happen if you drink while you are pregnant:
1. Your baby could have birth defects.
2. Your baby could die before age one.
3. Your baby could have mental retardation.
4. Your baby could have special education needs.
5. Your baby could have behavior problems such as hyperactivity, speech problems like stuttering or lisping, and hearing problems.
6. You could lose your baby or your baby could be stillborn.
7. You could spend a lot of time trying to raise your child, or perhaps you could spend the rest of your life caring for your child like a baby.
8. Your child may have difficulty understanding consequences. Children with FASD are harder to raise and discipline.
9. You could have to pay for a lot of costs for health issues and social problems.
10. Our tribe could still have the highest rates of poverty, social problems, crime rates, and poor health statistics. FASD would continue the cycle.
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Physical:
Drinking while pregnant can cause your baby to have abnormal physical features. You could have problems giving your child directions or trying to teach them because their hearing may be affected by these birth defects. Your child could also have problems with eyesight. There could be low-birthweight and failure-to-thrive issues. Your child might have speech problems, like stuttering or speaking with a lisp, and other children may tease them. There are other physical features that your child could have if you choose to drink alcohol while pregnant, such as a smaller-than-normal head, small eye openings, and a thin upper lip. The baby’s organs may not be fully developed. This would include the brain as well as the baby’s heart.
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Spiritual:
A child with FASD may have hyperactivity and be difficult to handle. They will not be able to sit still for a long period of time and may be overactive at inappropriate times. They may cause embarrassing disruptions. A midwife reported that she had delivered babies where she could smell alcohol as the baby came out. Babies can actually be born drunk and stay in that state of mind throughout life.
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Emotional:
Children with FASD face a lifetime of difficult emotional problems. These problems can take a toll on how the child grows to feel about him/herself. They may have low self-esteem because they have learning disabilities, are different from the rest of the children, and have trouble controlling themselves.
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Mental:
If you drank alcohol before you knew you were pregnant, or if you have been drinking alcohol, stop now. You can prevent serious complications by stopping now. Only you can prevent FASD by choosing to be healthy and not drink while you are pregnant. Your child will grow up to make you proud.
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There is NO CURE FOR FASD. Only the parents can PREVENT it from starting or getting worse!
Pregnancy is a great blessing. Please understand that there are women who are not able to have babies. This is a gift from the Creator and you should be proud to have been chosen to love and care for this precious gift! If you or a friend who is pregnant ever need help or support, please visit the Resources link for programs that are offered in our area where you can get help.
Click here to learn about other Things you can do!
Source: Indigenous Women’s Health Book, Within the Sacred Circle: Reproductive Rights , Environmental Health, Traditional Herbs and Remedies, published by The Native Women’s Health Education Resource Center, 2003. Chapter 7, p.7.
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