Why take the risk?

Alcohol use during pregnancy can lead to lifelong effects

Up to 1 in 20 US school children may have FASDs

People with FASDs can experience a mix of the following problems:

Physical issues.

low birth weight and growth.

problems with heart, kidneys, and other organs.

damage to parts of the brain.

Which leads to…

Behavioral and intellectual disabilities

learning disabilities and low IQ

hyperactivity

difficulty with attention

poor ability to communicate in social situations

poor reasoning and judgment skills

These can lead to…

Lifelong issues with

school and social skills

living independently

mental health

substance use

keeping a job

trouble with the law

Drinking while pregnant costs the US $5.5 billion (2010).

SOURCES: CDC Vital Signs, February 2016. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, November 2015.

Doctors, nurses, or other health professionals should screen* every adult patient, including pregnant women, and counsel those who drink too much. Providers can help women avoid drinking too much, including avoiding alcohol during pregnancy, in 5 steps.

Assess a woman’s drinking. Use a validated screener (e.g., AUDIT {US}*).

Take 6-15 minutes to explain results and provide counseling to women who are drinking too much.

Advise her not to drink at all if she is pregnant or might be pregnant.

Come up with a plan together. Recommend birth control if a woman is having sex (if appropriate), not planning to get pregnant, and is drinking alcohol. Review risk for pregnancy and importance of birth control use.

Discuss full range of methods available.

Encourage her to always use condoms to reduce risk of sexually transmitted diseases. Advise a woman to stop drinking if she is trying to get pregnant or not using birth control with sex. Discuss the reasons to stop alcohol use before the woman realizes she is pregnant. Refer for additional services if a woman cannot stop drinking on her own. Provide information on local programs or go to SAMHSA treatment locator. www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov External

Consider referral to treatment or recommend Alcoholics Anonymous. www.aa.org External Follow up yearly or more often, as needed. Set a time for return appointment.

Continue support at follow-up.

*Learn how to do alcohol screening and counseling at www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/alcohol-screening.html.

SOURCE: Adapted from American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. www.acog.org/alcoholExternal .