The Best Start in Life

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The Best Start in Life

• What youth need to know about Fetal Alcohol
  Spectrum Disorder

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HISTORY
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History

• Known since Biblical times 300 BC,
• Introduced in 1973 by Dr. Jones and Smith.
• FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder), an
  umbrella term describing the range of effects
  that can occur from drinking during pregnancy.

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What is FASD?

• FASD- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
• FASD is a medical diagnoses-only a doctor with
  specialized knowledge can say for sure that
  someone has FASD
• When mom drinks during pregnancy, this can cause
  Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder can cause birth
  defects and is the leading cause of mental
  retardation.

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What does Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder mean?

• Fetal means to do with a fetus
• Alcohol means the condition is caused by
  alcohol.
• Spectrum means there is a range of severity.
• Disordermeans a disturbance of the normal
  state of body or mind.

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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

• FASD refers to the entire range of
  characteristics caused by exposure to alcohol
  before birth.
• Alcohol disturbs normal development of the baby.

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FASD includes FAS FAE

• FAE stands for Fetal Alcohol Effects
• Effects means that a person only has some of
  these symptoms
• FAS stands for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
• Syndrome is a group of symptoms that occur
  together.

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FAS Symptoms

• Growth abnormalities- smaller
• Physical abnormalities- FAS face, etc
• Brain Damage- revealed by childs behavior

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Developing Baby

• Everything mom takes in goes through placenta to
  baby
• Alcohol travels to baby through umbilical cord.
• The placenta does not act as a filter system to
  protect fetus from alcohol.

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Fetal Development
Brain and other parts of central nervous system
Heart
Upper limbs
Eyes
Lower Limbs
Teeth
Palate
External Gentalia
Ears
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Some of the Problems for baby can be

• Babys will be much smaller when born
• Baby will have distinct facial features
• Baby may have a failure to thrive
• Baby may have a hard time sucking
• Baby may cry a lot
• Baby may not like bright lights or lots of
  noises around them.
• Baby may have floppy muscles (Hypotnia)

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Alcohol harms unborn babies

• The damage is permanent.
• The facial abnormalities become less noticeable
  over time but FASD lasts a lifetime.

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Parenting Babys with FASD

• Some parents may be overwhelmed with the baby
  and this could lead to abuse, neglect.
• Parents may not get enough sleep because these
  children can be time consuming and can cause
  stress in the home.
  
  
  
  
• Parents may need to seek supports from the
  community
• Parents may loose their child and the child may
  be placed in foster care.
• There is no cure.

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All alcohol is harmful-including

• Wine, beer, hard liquor (rum, vodka, gin, etc..)
• Lite beer
• Cider
• Home-brew and wine made at home
• Products containing alcohol, such as Listerine,
  that are not intended to be used as beverages

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Problems for teens

• Babies born to teenagers who drink heavily are at
  double the risk. Since the teenager herself is a
  growing individual, her body needs nutrients for
  her own growth. The unborn child also needs
  nutrients for development. In a teenage
  pregnancy, both mother and baby are at risk - the
  mother puts additional stress on her body and the
  baby has an increased chance of being born too
  small or too soon. If the fetus is also subjected
  to excessive alcohol from the mother, the child
  may suffer some characteristics of FAS.

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Intervention strategies

• It takes a community to support a woman in her
  efforts not to drink and it takes a community to
  support children affected by alcohol before
  birth. Many children are unable to remain with
  their parents. They can be found with extended
  family, in foster care, placed for adoption and,
  in time left to flounder, in courtrooms or in
  jails or on the streets alone and in danger.

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FASD can be prevented

• A pregnant girl who does not drink any alcohol
  during her pregnancy will not have a baby with
  FASD.
• There is no safe time to drink during
  pregnancy.
• There is no safe amount to drink during
  pregnancy.

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When the time comes.

• When you are ready to become a parent, plan to
  have the healthiest baby possible.
• A healthy pregnancy is an alcohol-free pregnancy.
• A healthy pregnancy is tobacco-free and drug-free
  too.

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Until Then

• If you are sexually active and you are drinking,
  ALWAYS use reliable birth control-
• no exceptions.
• If you are sexually active and you are not using
  reliable birth control, ABSTAIN from alcohol
• -no exceptions.
• You could be pregnant but not know for sure.

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Birth control

• Talk to your doctor and find out what birth
  control is best for you.
• There are many web sites with birth control
  information.
• Click on the youth link at www.optionsforsexualh
  ealth.org/index.htm

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Take you pick

• Reliable birth control
• OR
• No Alcohol
• OR
• Abstain from sex

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FASD is not just a women's issue

• Men have a very important role to play in
  preventing FASD
• Responsible men support their partners in the
  prevention of FASD
• Men can help their partners make healthy choices.

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Traditional role of fathers.

• When your mate is carrying your child, you
  forget about yourself. All you think of is that
  mate you have to look after her, give her the
  utmost love, the care. Then she will bear you
  strong healthy children. Elder
  Mary Thomas

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Drinking affects our partners

• Teens most often drink with their partners.
• If a guy is drinking, its harder for this partner
  to abstain.
• If a guy is drinking, he is not providing his
  partner with the emotional support she needs to
  have a healthy pregnancy.

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Now we Know.

• In the past, people didnt know that alcohol
  harmed unborn babies.
• Now we know-its up to us to prevent future cases
  of FASD.

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Lets make a commitment.

• No more FASD in our community
• If there is a possibility that you might be
  pregnant i.e. you have had sex without reliable
  birth control-dont drink ANY alcohol.
• Support each other in building a FASD free
  community.

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It takes teamwork

• Both men and women have roles to play in creating
  healthy, loving homes for themselves and their
  children.

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The answer lies with you

• Girls become a mom only when you are prepared
  to have a healthy pregnancy.
• Guys become a dad only when you are prepared to
  protect and provide for your family.
• Friends help one another make healthy choices.

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• Acknowledgements to BC Aboriginal Child Care
  Society.

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