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​​MYTH: Alcohol or drugs taken after the first trimester will not affect the unborn baby.

FACT: Most organ development is completed a few weeks fasafter the first trimester. Brain development continues throughout pregnancy and after birth. Exposure to substances any time in the pregnancy can affect the baby's brain.

MYTH: A breastfeeding mother can provide more breast milk for her baby by drinking beer.

FACT: When a mother drinks alcohol it passes into her breast milk. Studies have shown that infants take in less breast milk when the mother drinks any type of alcohol, including beer. Contact the Breastfeeding Coalition to get more information or get connected with someone in your area.

MYTH: One drink in pregnancy is enough to harm the unborn baby.

FACT: A safe amount of alcohol in pregnancy is not known. It is unlikely, though, that a single drink before you knew you were pregnant could damage your unborn baby. Avoid drinking when you know you are pregnant and call the Helpline to talk about how drinking during pregnancy can affect your unborn baby's development.

MYTH: There is no hope for a baby exposed to heavy drug and alcohol use.

FACT: There is always hope. Drug and alcohol use in pregnancy affects each baby differently. Call for information on the risks of birth defects and where to find prenatal support.
Taken from http://www.motherisk.org/women/alcohol.jsp

MYTH: FAS means mental deficiencies.

FACT: Some people with FAS have cognitive impairments and/or developmental delays and some do not. People with FAS can have normal and above-average intelligence. While there is injury to the brain, each affected person will have specific areas of strengths and weaknesses.

MYTH: Behavior problems linked to FAS and partial FAS are all the result of poor parenting.
FACT: Definitely NOT! Brain injury can lead to behavioral problems because people with brain injuries do not process information in the same way that other people do. Children with brain injuries can be challenging to raise, and their parents need help and support—not criticism and judgment.

MYTH: Children affected by FAS will grow out of it when they grow up.
FACT: Unfortunately, they do not ‘grow out of it’. FAS lasts a lifetime, even though the symptoms and types of problems can change with age.

MYTH: Admitting that a child has brain injury is to give up on him/her.
FACT: We need NEVER give up on any child with any problem. Instead, we need to understand the needs of those affected by FAS and explore ways to help them.​​
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