Promoting Alcohol- Free Pregnancies in the NWT 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 Social Services Government of the Northwest Territories
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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