Experts recommend that women planning a pregnancy, or women who are pregnant avoid drinking any alcohol throughout pregnancy. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause permanent birth defects and brain damage to your baby. 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. Avoid all types of alcohol throughout your pregnancy. What if you had a few drinks before you knew you were pregnant? About 50% of pregnancies are unplanned. Having a small amount of alcohol before you knew you were pregnant is not likely to harm your baby. 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 that are 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 their past mistakes, making good decisions and getting along with others. Is it Safe for My Baby - Methadone For more information on Alcohol and Pregnancy visit Best Start’s website at: www.alcoholfreepregnancy.ca Services for women who are pregnant or parenting involved with alcohol and/or drugs List of Services in Waterloo Region What is Sandy’s Law? Sandy’s Law is a new Ontario law that takes effect February 1, 2005 that requires all licensed establishments to post an 8.5 by 11 inch 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 www.alcoholfreepregnancy.ca " The sign can be downloaded from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario’s website at, http://www.agco.on.ca/en/b.alcohol/warningsign.html. It is available in black and white or colour. The Region of Waterloo Public Health will also have signs available for licensed establishments. To order a sign call 883-2267. History of Sandy’s Law Sandy’s Law was introduced as a private member’s bill by Ernie Parsons, the MPP for Prince Edward-Hastings. He and his wife adopted their son Sandy when he was two years of age. Sandy died completely unexpectedly of FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) complications in January of 2004. Mr. Parsons, spurred by the untimely death of his son presented Sandy’s Law as a private members bill to the Ontario Legislature. It was supported unanimously by all parties at Queen’s Park and represents an exciting and concrete first step in Ontario to eradicate FASD – the most common cause of birth defects and developmental delay in North America. Sandy’s law is aimed at preventing some of the nine in every 1,000 babies born in Canada who are afflicted with FASD, which causes abnormal facial features, growth retardation and central nervous system problems. Children with FASD often have social problems, trouble learning, short attention spans and memory lapses. Studies also show that 42 per cent of federal prison inmates suffer from FASD.