Consuming alcohol during pregnancy can have dire and lifelong consequences on the unborn baby, one of these being the development of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). This month marks FASD Awareness Month, where the spotlight is shone on this irreversible condition.
Raising awareness of FAS and FASD is a crucial part of addressing the issue and this is one of the focus areas of The Pebbles Project, a non-profit organisation based on a farm in Stellenbosch, who serves the local farming communities.
Although the non-profit organisation is not equipped to diagnose FAS, their services in the communities do include screening babies for exposure to alcohol during the mom’s pregnancy.
Sister Samantha Adams, clinic manager at the organisation, says there’s no cure for FAS, but the condition is 100% preventable when mothers abstain from alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
She says: “Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is considered the most severe condition within the Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) spectrum. It is crucial to have a specialised medical team diagnose any FASD condition.”
According to Sister Adams, FAS or FASD will affect the neurocognition of the developing foetus. “Children with FAS commonly experience neurocognitive impairments, which may impact their cognitive abilities. These challenges can affect their academic performance and lead to long-term difficulties without the proper support,” she says.
This decrease or altering of the cognitive functioning in children with FAS can impact other areas of their lives, says Sister Adams. “This could result in academic struggles, teenage pregnancies, mental health concerns, challenges in building relationships, unemployment, and potential legal issues,” she says.
One of the projects run by The Pebbles Project to address, prevent and educate moms-to-be on the issue of FAS is their Baby Box Programme, which forms part of their Maternal Health Education initiative. The harmful effects of alcohol use on the unborn baby during pregnancy are one of the topics covered in the workshops.
“Additionally, the programme includes antenatal screening to assess alcohol consumption. Pregnant women who consume alcohol are referred to social workers, and extra home visits are scheduled for additional support,” says Sister Adams.
After completion of the series of workshops, pregnant participants receive a baby box containing essentials for both mom and baby.
Although the organisation’s mandate is to help all children in its programmes and their focus is not exclusive on FAS-affected children, they also do in instances where behavioural problems or cognitive developmental challenges are detected, refer children to trained healthcare, social work, or educational professionals for further specialised assistance.
The main message The Pebbles Project wish to highlight during FASD Awareness Month is to emphasise the harm caused to the unborn child. “Mothers need to be aware that alcohol consumption during pregnancy and breastfeeding can cause incurable harm to the baby. Remember, there’s no cure for FAS, but it’s 100% preventable.
“Be a responsible mother and pledge to yourself and your unborn baby not to ‘drink a drop’,” says Sister Adams.
In their efforts to address FASD, spokesperson for the provincial Department of Social Development (DSD), Monique Mortlock-Malgas, says the DSD has allocated over R99 million to its Substance Abuse Prevention and Rehabilitation programmes, which include funding of substance use disorder treatment services and in-treatment facilities in communities.
“This also includes the funding of two NGOs that provide support services and prevention programmes in the FASD space: Early Years Services and the Foundation for Alcohol related research (FARR),” says Ms Mortlock-Malgas.
She says FARR renders prevention services in Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder with their annual target being to reach 2 000 people.
In a press statement issued by the AWARE.org organisation, Dr Leana Olivier, says FASD is not a medical issue only, but a concern which affects the broader community, and calls for an expanded and collective approach to address FASD.
“This FASD Awareness Month, we urge everyone to spread the word about the dangers of alcohol use during pregnancy and to support efforts to eliminate FASD,” she says in the statement.
According to information provided on the website of the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, the harmful effects of alcohol can damage the foetus at any stage of your pregnancy and its dangerous effects are not limited to only a certain stage during the pregnancy. Thus, pregnant women are advised to stop alcohol consumption throughout their entire pregnancy.
