Alcohol & Pregnancy

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A PREGNANT WOMANDRINKS ALCOHOL?

IS THIS OK?

LET’S THINK ABOUT THE MOTHER:

HOW DOES HER BODY FILTER ALCOHOL?

LIVER

AN UNBORN BABY DOESN’THAVE A FUNCTIONING LIVER

UNTIL AFTER BIRTH.

YOU WOULDN’T DRINK UNFILTERED WATER STRAIGHT

FROM THE RIVER.

SO WHY SHOULD A BABY BE GIVEN UNFILTERED

ALCOHOL?

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS?

SMALL BODY SIZE

SLOW DEVELOPMENT

DEFORMED RIBS

MISCARRIAGE

POOR SIGHT

HEART DEFECTS

HYPERACTIVITY

MENTAL RETARDATION

POOR COORDINATION

GENITAL DEFORMITIES

DROOPING EYELIDS

BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM OF ALL:

FETAL ALCOHOL

SYNDROME

THE ONLY WAY THAT SOMEONE CAN GET IT IS

THROUGH THEIR MOTHER’SDRINKING

BRAIN DAMAGE

PROBLEMSHARD TO CONTROL BEHAVIOUR

SLOW TO LEARN

CAN’T UNDERSTAND CONSEQUENCES OF ACTIONS OR LEARN FROM EXPERIENCES

FIND IT HARD TO REASON AND THINK THINGS THROUGH

ISSUES WITH SOCIAL SKILLS

HYPERACTIVITY

SOCIAL PROBLEMSTROUBLE WITH CRIME

DROP OUT OF SCHOOL

DISRUPTIVE IN THE CLASSROOM

UNEMPLOYMENT

ALCOHOL PROBLEMS

DRUG PROBLEMS

HOMELESSNESS

THERE IS NO CURE

PEOPLE HAVE IT FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIFE

HOW MUCH ALCOHOL CAN CAUSE THIS?

THERE IS NO SAFE LIMIT

NHS GUIDELINES

• YOU SHOULD AVOID ALL ALCOHOL• IF YOU MUST DRINK, IT SHOULD BE NO

MORE THAN 2 UNITS ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK• YOU MUST NOT DRINK IN THE FIRST

THREE MONTHS OF PREGNANCY

THIS IS A COMPLETELY PREVENTABLE

PROBLEM

BUT IT IS IRREVERSIBLE

ONCE THE DAMAGE IS DONE