Finding out that you are pregnant is an exciting occasion, but it brings a whole new set of challenges.  It is important to take care of yourself and your baby by avoiding any drug use during pregnancy.  This includes cigarettes, alcohol, energy drinks, marijuana, illegal street drugs,  or over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs.  Whatever you take should be approved by your healthcare provider. Your baby is depending on you to make the right choice.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

FASD is a group of 
conditions that can occur in a person whose mother drank 
alcohol during pregnancy. These effects can include 
physical problems and problems with behavior and 
learning.  Often, a person with an FASD has a mix of 
these problems.

Cause and Prevention

FASDs are caused by a woman drinking alcohol during
 pregnancy. There is no known amount of alcohol that is 
safe to drink while pregnant. There is also no safe time to
 drink during pregnancy and no safe kind of alcohol to 
drink while pregnant.  FASDs refer to the whole range of effects that can happen
to a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. 
These conditions can affect each person in different ways,
and can range from mild to severe.

A person with an FASD might have:

• Abnormal facial features, such as a smooth ridge between the nose and upper lip (this ridge is called the philtrum)
• Small head size
• Shorter-than-average height
• Low body weight
• Poor coordination
• Hyperactive behavior
• Difficulty paying attention
• Poor memory
• Difficulty in school (especially with math)
• Learning disabilities
• Speech and language delays
• Intellectual disability or low IQ
• Poor reasoning and judgment skills
• Sleep and sucking problems as a baby
• Vision or hearing problems
• Problems with the heart, kidneys, or bones

For more information, please visit: CDC’s Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder(FASD)