babytalk
Teaching Tools to Prevent
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
April is Alcohol Awareness Month, making it a great time to raise awareness of the risks of consuming alcohol during pregnancy.
Prenatal alcohol exposure puts babies at risk for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), a group of conditions, ranging from mild to severe, which can cause physical, cognitive, and behavioral impairments that may emerge at any time during childhood. These impairments will last a lifetime. Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) represents the severe end of FASD. A baby born with an FASD might have facial abnormalities, growth problems, central nervous system problems, intellectual disabilities, behavioral issues, vision or hearing problems, or problems with the heart, kidney, or bones.
As many as 5 percent of first-graders are estimated to be affected by FASD in the United States, where alcohol exposure during pregnancy is a leading cause of neurodevelopmental disorders and birth defects.
The good news is that FASD are completely preventable. A mother can eliminate her baby’s risk for FASD by avoiding alcohol during pregnancy. Although heavy and binge drinking increase the likelihood of harm, even small amounts of alcohol increase the risk and should be avoided. There is no known safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
Childbirth Graphics has a variety of engaging educational materials that highlight pregnancy hazards, including alcohol, and are ideal to teach why alcohol should be avoided to prevent FASD. Read on to discover just a few ways to raise awareness of the risks of consuming alcohol during pregnancy.
Inspire With Interactive Learning
Our What Mommy Does, Baby Does™ Display is a powerful demonstration model facilitators can use to show how alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use by pregnant women can cause devastating consequences for the babies growing inside them. Viewers watch as liquids representing alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs are placed in the mother’s mouth, and then they can see how those dangerous substances go through the mother’s body and pollute the fetal environment, represented by a lifelike fetus model in a plastic uterus. A detailed activity guide provides information about the importance of avoiding alcohol and other substances during pregnancy.
A fun way to inspire group discussions or to work one-on-one with pregnant moms, our Prenatal Care Box Display features 13 items that represent safety concerns for pregnant women, including a beer bottle that signifies the importance of avoiding alcohol. Detailed presentation notes include additional information for facilitators to provide about FASD (including alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorders, alcohol-related birth defects, and fetal alcohol syndrome), highlighting the fact that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy and making abstaining from all alcoholic beverages the safe decision. Put Information on Display
Our four-panel Hazards During Pregnancy Folding Display discusses the risks of consuming alcohol during pregnancy—such as increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, low birthweight, and FASD (including FAS). Multiple other pregnancy hazards—including tobacco, chemical exposure, illegal drugs, and more—are also covered. 
With attention-grabbing graphics, our What Goes in Your Body Goes in Your Baby Chart covers alcohol in addition to other substances (including marijuana, nicotine, illegal drugs, and certain prescription and over-the-counter drugs) that can harm a developing baby. It emphasizes that no amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy. Provide Take-Home Reinforcements
Covering FASD, including FAS, our Preventing FAS Pamphlet is the perfect handout to explain the risks of prenatal alcohol exposure.
It also covers the potential harms of alcohol and breastfeeding, provides a list of dos and don’ts to help ensure a healthy pregnancy, and emphasizes that alcohol damage to a baby can occur even before a woman may realize she is pregnant.
Find More Pregnancy Hazards Educational Materials
From alcohol to tobacco, illegal substances, dietary hazards, and more, Childbirth Graphics has a variety of educational resources to help ensure a healthy pregnancy. Visit our website sections dedicated to pregnancy hazards and pregnancy education resources to find all the educator essentials!
The information contained in this article is not intended to replace the advice of a healthcare professional.
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