FASD Awareness Day:  “Pregnant Pause”

Recently, Denise Swallow and Sarah Hammet, cognitive disability consultants with Ehrlo Counselling Services, participated in the “Pregnant Pause” as part of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day on September 10, 2012 at the University of Regina.  This event was organized by the FASD Network. Thirteen members celebrated FASD Awareness Day by wearing branded t-shirts with balloons strategically placed under them to simulate a pregnancy. The members made their way through the halls of the University of Regina stopping periodically for a “Pregnant Pause”. The “Pregnant Pause” represents those nine months of pregnancy when a mother “pauses” from drinking alcohol.  Each year worldwide, September 9^th is chosen as FASD Awareness Day. On the ninth day, of the ninth month, communities around the world hold events to raise awareness of FASD.  The original organizers of International FAS Awareness Day were the parents of children with these disorders.  This special day endures and it helps to further an understanding of the effects of prenatal exposure to alcohol and its resulting disabilities. “The Cognitive Disability Strategy sees a lot of FASD cases,” points out Swallow. “So the more awareness we can put forth into the community about FASD and how to prevent it and also how to continue to develop services for those living with FASD, the better.” 

Swallow further explained that one of the barriers to getting services to individuals with FASD is that there exists a stigma for moms to come forward and say “I drank while I was pregnant and now my child has a disability (FASD).” Due to this barrier, FASD is considered an “invisible” disability. This means that many of the clients Swallow works with may have the verbal skills, but not the executive skills (decision making, informational processing, etc), to function in the community. Therefore, people do not immediately observe the clients as having a problem, which can result in them having a difficult time finding help.

There is no cure for FASD, but FASD is preventable.  The solutions are complex, but the cause is clear. FASD occurs only when developing babies are exposed to alcohol during pregnancy.  Woman who are pregnant need support to make healthy choices for themselves and their unborn babies.  If a woman is pregnant, she should not drink any alcohol.  Partners, friends, and family can support pregnant women in their lives by helping them make good choices.   

Swallow helps through her professional interest on the issue. “I am passionate about it. In my career as a social worker, I have seen the effects of FASD on the clients and the people that I work with as well as the challenges that they face. I feel very strongly that it requires a community response - to be promoting it and bridging more services for clients. I feel very strongly and passionately that I am in a position where I can do something about it. I feel that we need to continue to bring more awareness to it and I am committed to it for the long term.”