FAQs for Professionals

When during a woman’s pregnancy should I recommend that she stop drinking? As soon as a woman mentions that she is trying to start a family or  have a child, tell her that she needs to stop drinking. A woman may not know when she is pregnant, continue to drink and potentially cause harm to her unborn child. Alcohol can hurt a baby even during the first month of pregnancy. Remind your patient about the dangers of drinking while trying to get pregnant and while pregnant, and the negative effects it could have on her unborn child.

When should I test a woman for alcohol dependency?
If a woman refuses to stop drinking while pregnant or during the time she is trying to become pregnant, an alcohol dependency screening may be necessary. Every case is different.

Can a father’s drinking habits result in their son/daughter having FASD?
While there is not any research to completely prove that a father who drinks prior to conception influences a baby’s likelihood to have FASD, drinking alcohol does affect a man’s sperm which can result in other problems. Drinking can mutate sperm which can lead to birth defects, miscarriages or illness in a baby. Remind men who are trying to start families that while they need to be careful about their own drinking habits and they need to be a solid support system to the women in their lives by advocating abstinence from drinking while trying to start a family or while pregnant.

How should I tell a patient that their son/daughter has FASD?
As a healthcare professional, you have the responsibility to tell a parent if there is a possibility that their child has FASD. While your patient may become upset or overwhelmed, remind them that their child’s behavior has a reason behind it, and that the way their child acts, looks or responds to certain situations can be explained. Your patient will have a lot to learn about their child once they realize what FASD is. Help your patient find the right resources and intervention treatments to ensure a healthy relationship with their child and increase their understanding of the disorder.

A patient says she drank during her last pregnancy and nothing happened to her child and does not see the point in abstaining from drinking in her current pregnancy. What do I say?
Remind the patient that every pregnancy is different. Some pregnant women can consume just one or two drinks and affect their baby more than another woman who drank frequently. Just because a woman has one healthy baby does not ensure that her other children will be as fortunate.

What are the characteristics of a child with FASD?
A child with FASD has abnormal facial features, lower than average height and/or weight, central nervous system problems (for example, small head size) problems with attention and hyperactivity and poor coordination.

I know there is no cure for FASD. What do I tell a parent who won’t accept this fact?
While parents may become frustrated when they learn their child has FASD, you need to tell them that there are techniques and strategies they can use to positively impact the lives of their children with FASD. Children, teenagers and adults with FASD need a stable, structured home setting, access to medical and support services and an advocate to help others recognize the strengths and limits of a person with FASD.