For last year’s International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Day, we went into a lot of details exploring Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the differences between FASD and FAS. This year, we will focus on encouraging each other to talk about alcohol consumption in pregnancy and the importance of allowing ourselves to heal from traumas of our past. The first step in reducing stigma is to get those conversations going.
Addiction is not the only reason one might consume substances in pregnancy, but it is the most common causes of induced congenital issues. Addiction is often a means of coping through traumas. If our healthcare system was a little more focused on upstream ways of helping identify and cope with traumas, we could potentially decrease the amount of substance abuse disorders. If you haven’t heard of ACE // Adverse Childhood Events, it is a great concept to come to understand and it is one we will absolutely be diving into on this website.
With all of that said, not all FASD or FAS cases are due to substance abuse or misuse syndromes. While not overly common, some people may continue on with their lifestyles not knowing that they are pregnant. They may find out that they are pregnant after a week of binge drinking during spring break, for example.
