Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Awareness Day on September 9 raised awareness about the dangers of drinking during pregnancy.
At least 500 000 South Africans suffer from foetal alcohol spectrum disorders. South Africa, with an incidence of 8-12%, has the highest rate of FAS globally, with De Aar having the highest prevalence – 12% in the country. It is estimated that in Western Cape, 70-80 babies per 1 000 are born with FAS.
The mother and baby are connected by the placenta and the umbilical cord. This means that the baby takes in almost everything that the mother consumes. Substances can build up in the baby’s system and can cause permanent damage.
Drinking alcohol when you are pregnant – even in small quantities – puts your baby at risk of being born with irreversible mental dysfunction, physical and central nervous system abnormalities and growth retardation. As a consequence of brain abnormalities, children with FAS have learning disabilities, behavioural abnormalities and cognitive impairment.
Alcohol consumed by the mother enters the blood and reaches the foetus within 20 minutes.
FAS characteristics:
- Facial features
- Narrow or small eyes
- Smooth ridge between nose and upper lip
- Thin upper lip.
- Growth retardation
- Stunted weight, height and head circumference.
- Intellectual and behavioural difficulties (central nervous system abnormalities).
Everyone participating in FAS Day was invited to share in the ‘Minute of Reflection’ — 9:09 am on September 9. In this magical moment, the ninth minute of the ninth hour of the ninth day of the ninth month, the message was spread that during the nine months of pregnancy, while breastfeeding or planning to conceive, women should not drink alcohol.
“We also ask people to spare a thought for the millions of people around the world who are living with fetal alcohol disorders as a result of their mother consuming alcohol while pregnant,” says Adel Grobbelaar, the head of Rand Aid’s Wedge Gardens treatment centre in Whitney Gardens.
For more information, call Wedge Gardens on 011 430 0320.
* You can also ‘like’ Wedge Gardens on Facebook (www.facebook.com/WedgeGardensTreatmentCentre) or follow them on Twitter (@WedgeGardens)