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Alcohol & Pregnancy Don't Mix
Experts recommend that women planning a pregnancy or women who are pregnant avoid drinking all types of alcohol throughout their pregnancy.
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause permanent birth defects and brain damage to your baby.
Therefore, to help your baby be as healthy as possible, stop drinking alcohol when you are trying to get pregnant, or as soon as you suspect you are pregnant.
What if you had a few drinks before you knew you were pregnant?
About 50 per cent of pregnancies are unplanned. Having a small amount of alcohol before you knew you were pregnant is not likely to harm your baby. However, stop drinking as soon as you suspect you are pregnant. For more information, call Motherisk at 1-877-FAS-INFO.
What is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)?
FASD is a new term used to describe all of the physical and learning disabilities that are caused by alcohol use in pregnancy. Drinking alcohol in pregnancy has been shown to cause:
- Brain Damage
- Vision and Hearing Difficulties
- Bones, Limbs and Fingers Not Properly Formed
- Heart, Kidney, Liver and Other Organ Damage
- Growth Deficiencies
Because alcohol affects the brain and causes brain damage, a child may have serious difficulties with learning, remembering, learning from past mistakes, making good decisions and getting along with others.
For more information on alcohol and pregnancy, visit Best Start's website Be Safe: Have an Alcohol-free Pregnancy.
What is Sandy's Law?
Sandy's Law is an Ontario law that took effect Feb. 1, 2005. It requires all licensed establishments to post a sign warning about the dangers of drinking alcohol in pregnancy.
The sign states: WARNING: Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause birth defects and brain damage to your baby. For more information call 1-877-FAS-INFO or visit Best Start's website Be Safe: Have an Alcohol-free Pregnancy.
The sign, which must be at least eight by 11 inches in size, can be downloaded from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario's website. It is available in black and white or colour.
Region of Waterloo Public Health also has signs available for licensed establishments. To order a sign, call 519-883-2006.
Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Substance Use
Check for information on Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Substance Use
Services
Check the list of services in Waterloo Region: Services for Women who are Pregnant or Parenting and Involved with Alcohol and/or Drugs,
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