No, FASD is only caused by drinking during your pregnancy. Breastfeeding after drinking will not cause FASD in your infant. There are a few things you should know about breastfeeding and alcohol. First there are potential risks for a baby who receives alcohol through breast milk such as changes in their sleeping patterns, their short-term [...]

Probably the best thing that you can do is be there for her. The fact that you are asking questions is a great start. Pregnancies especially unplanned ones, can be stressful. Having a good support system around when you are pregnant can be the difference between coping and totally freaking out. In terms of drug [...]

This is not true. Oxy or Oxycontin is an opiate which is a class of drugs that includes, for example, morphine, heroin, codeine and methadone. If you are pregnant and have been using opiates regularly for a while it is actually a very bad idea to quit suddenly. Quitting opiates suddenly can cause miscarriage and [...]

One really great Canadian website is www.motherisk.ca which was developed by the Toronto hospital for sick kids. They also have a free phone line: 1 (877) 327-4636. This service is confidential and the doctors and nurses on the phone can provide you with the most up to date information on pregnancy and alcohol and substance [...]

Being scared is a common feeling especially in your situation. Pregnant or not, no one wants to go to a doctor if they think the doctor is going to give them a lecture. Many teens are afraid to tell their doctors anything at all about drinking in their pregnancy because of the way people treat [...]

Sounds like drinking has been a big part of your life for a while. It can be hard to quit, especially if alcohol is your way of coping with difficult things in your life. It also sounds like having a healthy pregnancy is important to you and that you are unsure about what to do. [...]

FASD is often not diagnosed until kids are a little older; often when they are getting ready to start school or already in school. Also, some of the features of FASD you can’t see like the learning challenges. (That’s why FASD can be called an invisible disability.) So your friend’s baby may be affected and [...]

Marijuana does not cause FASD. There is not a lot of research telling us about the effect pot has on pregnancy. We think, for the most part, marijuana is less harmful to the fetus (baby) than many other illegal drugs. That said, because there is not a ton of research on this topic, most doctors [...]

It is hard to say for sure, but we do know that quitting anytime during pregnancy can help reduce the risk of your child being affected. Let your doctor know and they can assess your child’s development over time to see if there are any issues that might be related to alcohol exposure during pregnancy. [...]

The baby (fetus) is affected by most of what you put into your body and some things are more harmful than others. Drinking alcohol in pregnancy can lead to your child ending up with FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder). Basically FASD is a term that we use to describe the mental and physical effects that [...]