WHAT ARE WE DOING? WHAT ARE WE PLANNING? 1 Sandra Malcolm, M.Sc., RT Certified FASD Project Specialist Prevention Services Unit Department of Health and.

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Promoting Alcohol-Free Pregnancies in the NWT

WHAT ARE WE DOING? WHAT ARE WE PLANNING?

Sandra Malcolm, M.Sc., RT CertifiedFASD Project SpecialistPrevention Services Unit

Department of Health and Social ServicesGovernment of the Northwest Territories

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Binge drinking is a serious problem, particularly among

youth. The 2009 NWT Addictions Report notes that among current drinkers, 64% of 15 – 24 year olds reported consuming five or more drinks on a single occasion and

one in four engaged in heavy drinking at least once a week.

What is FASD?Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is defined by Health Canada as: “an umbrella term used to describe the range of disabilities and diagnoses that result from drinking alcohol during pregnancy”.

FASD lasts for a person’s lifetime. There is no cure.

Health Canada further states: “The impact and effects of FASD vary. Specific birth defects and the degree of the disability can depend on how much alcohol was drunk, how often and when during the pregnancy… No amount or type of alcohol during pregnancy is considered safe”.

=FASD

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Alcohol is a teratogen.

Alcohol is a teratogen

Teratogen: "a drug or other substance capable of interfering with the development of a fetus, causing birth defects” (www.dictionary.com)

Teratogens include: cigarettes, cocaine, solvents and chemicals, seizure medications and other prescription drugs, lead, toxoplasmosis, chickenpox, genital herpes, radiation,

anesthetic gases, and alcohol

Alcohol causes FASD

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The effect on the developing fetus seems to be correlated to:

When during pregnancy the mother drank alcohol and what was developing at that time

How much alcohol was consumed

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Six week old ‘normal’ brain Six week old FASD affected brain

www.judiciaryreport.com/images/fas-brain.jpg

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Common Behaviours of Children affected by FASD

Friendly and social Helpful and kind

Developmental delays Different learning styles

Attention difficulties Poor fine motor skills

Poor Communication and Social Skills Poor higher level thinking

Poor and inconsistent memory skills Start to lag behind

Poor understanding of cause and effect

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When Working with a Person who is Affected by FASD…Try differently, NOT harder

Remember ‘People First’ language… it’s Person affected by FASD, Not “FASD person”

Don’t set him or her up for failure

Provide structure and consistency, and advise of any schedule changes in advance whenever possible

Work with his or her ‘external brain’, so everyone is on the same page

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So, how do we prevent FASD?Do not:Blame the mother or ignore the root cause of why the mother drinks

Do:Seek mental health treatment and / or counseling for women who need it

Talk to youth about abstaining from alcohol during pregnancy or if they think they might be pregnant, and talk to them BEFORE they reach child-bearing age

Implement brief intervention groups with high-risk mothers

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What about Drinking Alcohol

while Breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding is

the baby’s PERFECT FOOD

MYTH: "A breastfeeding mother can provide more breast milk for her baby by

drinking beer."

FACT: When a mother drinks alcohol it passes into her breast milk. Studies have

shown that infants take in less breast milk when the mother drinks any type of alcohol,

including beer.

It is always best to breastfeed.

It is best to make sure that the baby gets no alcohol when you breastfeed.

How?Don’t drink any alcohol

Pump and dump

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What’s Happening in FASD Prevention in the NWT?

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Department of Health and Social Services

Foundation for Change 2009-2012

Three Basic Goals:

WellnessAccessibility

Sustainability

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Canada Northwest FASD PartnershipCanada Northwest FASD Research

Network

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Systematic assessments - statistics are being gathered of the incidence of drinking during pregnancy

Diagnosis of FASD in children and youth

“Be A Friend” Poster campaignFASD Videoconference SeriesNWT FASD NetworkFunding to community projects

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Sandra Malcolm

(867) 920-3319

sandra_malcolm@gov.nt.ca