Most of us are familiar with the effects alcohol abuse can have on others around us, but many mothers-to-be do not understand the dangers even one drink during pregnancy can have on an unborn child.

An advisory by the U.S. Surgeon General says that alcohol can cause damages at any stage of pregnancy. Research shows that up to 20 percent of mothers-to-be continue to drink during pregnancy. Experts say this is due largely to the fact that many women are not aware that even small amounts of alcohol can cause harm to the unborn child.

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FASD) is a set of physical and mental birth defects that can result when a woman drinks alcohol during her pregnancy.

When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, such as beer, wine, or mixed drinks, so does her baby. Alcohol passes through the placenta right into the developing baby. The baby may suffer lifelong damage as a result.

Babies with FASD can have brain damage, facial deformities, and growth deficits. Heart, liver, and kidney defects also are common, as well as vision and hearing problems. Individuals with FASD have difficulties with learning, attention, memory, and problem solving.



Each year, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), as many as 40,000 babies are born with FAS, but many go undiagnosed because the symptoms are subtle or mild.

Did you know children exposed to tobacco smoke:

• Have more health problems like asthma and ear infections.

• Miss more school than children who are smoke-free.

• Babies exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to die as infants.

Did you know that quitting smoking has an immediate effect on your health?

20 minutes after quitting:

Your heart rate drops.

12 hours:

The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.

1-9 months:

Your coughing and shortness of breath decrease.

1 year:

Your added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s.

5 years:

Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker’s.

10 years:

Your lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker’s.

15 years:

Your risk of coronary heart disease is back to that of a nonsmoker’s.

Call toll free for resources to help you quit.

American Cancer Society National Cancer Institute 1-800-227-2345 www.cancer.org www.smokefree.gov

Source: US Department of Health and Human Services

Visit http://www.ecig.org/articles/Quitting-Cigarettes-Cigars-and-Chewing-Toba... for more options on how to quit smoking.

Harmful substances to avoid during pregnancy (www.Baby.com)

If you work with harmful substances, speak to your healthcare professional about the risks to your baby and your options. In general, the sooner you stop exposing yourself and your baby to those substances, the healthier both of you will be.

If you are having trouble breaking certain habits, such as smoking, drinking alcohol or caffeine, or taking drugs, speak to your healthcare professional.

All the following have a proven or highly suspected adverse effect on you and/or your developing baby and should be avoided:

Alcohol

Alcohol passes through the placenta and may result in miscarriage, low birth-weight babies and severe disabilities associated with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Remember: there is no established safe level of alcohol that can be consumed during pregnancy.

Caffeine

Results of studies on the impact of caffeine consumption during pregnancy are controversial, but caffeine does pass through the placenta to the baby. Remember that some tea, many sodas, chocolate and over-the-counter medications contain caffeine, too.

Glycol Ethers

These chemicals are found in inks, finishes, antifreeze and solutions used in electronics manufacturing. Glycol ethers are suspected of having a potent effect on both female and male reproduction including infertility and causing chromosomal damage leading to miscarriage or genetic abnormalities in the fetus.

High Temperatures

Although studies are inconclusive, experts say that during your pregnancy you should avoid any activity that could raise your body temperature over 102° F (38.9° C) for a sustained period of time. This includes hot weather workouts and steam rooms, as well as saunas, hot tubs and whirlpools. Take care with electric blankets: if you use one to warm the bed, turn it off when you get in.

Radiation

The ionizing radiation in X-rays is dangerous, so exposure should be carefully monitored by your healthcare professional and dentist. Nonionizing radiation from televisions, computer screens, microwave ovens and power plants has been suspected to be harmful, but current studies are inconclusive.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia and other diseases can have an adverse impact on you and your fetus. If you are sexually active use condoms, or abstain from having sex.

"Social" Drugs

Marijuana, cocaine, crack, heroin and other drugs all pass through the placenta and can seriously affect the baby. Among the serious problems that result from drug exposure during pregnancy are miscarriage, premature labor, and an increased possibility of stillbirth and death in the first week of life.

Tobacco Smoke

Smoking reduces your baby's supply of oxygen by constricting blood vessels. Even secondhand smoke from other people's cigarettes, cigars or pipes has been associated with miscarriage, low birth weight, preterm deliveries and other problems.

A pregnant smoker is at higher risk of having her baby born too early and with an abnormally low weight. A woman who smokes during or after pregnancy increases her infant’s risk of death from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Millions of Americans have health problems caused by smoking. Cigarette smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke cause an estimated average of 438,000 premature deaths each year in the United States. Of these premature deaths, about 40 percent are from cancer, 35 percent are from heart disease and stroke, and 25 percent are from lung disease. Smoking is the leading cause of premature, preventable death in this country.

Regardless of their age, smokers can substantially reduce their risk of disease, including cancer, by quitting.

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is a disease you can get from cats, from eating raw meat or from drinking unpasteurized milk. The disease can harm the fetus but if you've had a pet cat for awhile you may have an immunity to it already.

Your healthcare professional can give you a test to see if you have immunity, and you can also have your cat tested for active infection. You can protect yourself and your baby by cooking all meats thoroughly and wearing rubber gloves when handling uncooked meat, changing cat litter boxes or touching garden dirt that might contain the toxoplasma parasite.

Local Substance Abuse Resources:

Santa Clara County Department of Alcohol and Drug Services
The first step to alcohol & drug screening, information & referral
1-800-488-9919
www.sccgov.org/portal/site/dads/

Asian American Recovery Services
Treatment services for adults and youth experiencing substance abuse issues.
www.aars-inc.org/programs/programs.html

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County
Substance abuse treatment services for adults.
www.ccsj.org/services/behavioral_health/bh.html

Substance Abuse Treatment Locator
Finds substance abuse treatment services by zip code.
www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/

Community Health Awareness Council (CHAC)
Provides substance abuse prevention and treatment services for adolescents and families.
www.chacmv.org

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD)
Resources for substance abuse prevention and treatment.
http://www.ncaddsiliconvalley.org/

GATEWAY

A program of the Santa Clara County Department of Alcohol and Drug Services, GATEWAY is the First Step to Alcohol & Drug Screening, Information & Referral in Santa Clara County.
1-800-488-9919

Substance Abuse Treatment Locator

Finds substance abuse treatment services by zip code.
www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov

Coalition for Alcohol & Drug Free Pregnancies (CADFP)

Coalition works to raise the capacity of perinatal service providers in Santa Clara County to educate, identify risks, and prevent or treat perinatal substance use.
www.cadfp.org

National Substance Abuse Resources:

National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS)

Dedicated to eliminating birth defects caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy and to improving the quality of life for those affected individuals and families.
www.nofas.org

Center for FASD Excellence

The Center for FASD Excellence is a Federal initiative devoted to preventing and treating FASD. This website provides information and resources about FASD as well as materials you can use to raise awareness about FASD. The Center is dedicated to providing training, technical assistance, and conference/event speakers. www.fascenter.samhsa.gov

Smoke Free

http://www.smokefree.gov provides an online guide for smokers interested in quitting. This guide covers thinking about quitting, preparing to quit, quitting, and staying quit.

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD)

Resources for substance abuse prevention and treatment.
www.ncaddsiliconvalley.org

The Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Task Force of Santa Clara County

The Santa Clara County’s FASD Task Force was established on September 9, 2002 as an education and advocacy group to increase the awareness of the preventable nature of FASD. The FASD Task Force began with a small group of volunteers seeking to educate, address policy issues and foster the integration of systems on behalf of persons with FASD or at risk for FASD.

During any given day in Santa Clara County, about 75 babies are born. Out of those 75 babies more of them will be born with Fetal Alcohol Effects than with Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida, Muscular Dystrophy and HIV combined!



Santa Clara County’s FASD Task Force has produced awareness DVD's, health education brochures, provided trainings and resources for physicians, medical professions and the criminal justice community to understand the needs of people affected with FASD. The Task Force has organized an annual International FASD Awareness Day and the NineZero Conference.

In 2006, members of the FASD Task Force received a prevention planning grant from Santa Clara County's Department of Alcohol & Drug Services and created the Coalition for Alcohol & Drug Free Pregnancies (CADFP). CADFP is a collaboration of public and private agencies that supports reducing the number of children affected by perinatal substance use by encouraging physicians and other medical professionals to screen pregnant women and encourage abstinence from alcohol and other drug use. For more information check out www.cadfp.org

If you would like more information or to join our efforts please contact:

1-800-310-2332 or e-mail the Perinatal Substance Abuse Coordinator at raj.gill@hhs.sccgov.org.