By Carol Baldwin
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Wakaw Recorder
Since 1999, September 9 has been recognized as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day around the world. Throughout September, the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute supports community initiatives across our province to raise awareness about and educate the public about the impacts of prenatal alcohol exposure.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is one of the leading causes of neurodevelopmental disorders, affecting up to 4 percent of Canadians. The diagnostic term describes the lifelong impacts on the brain and body caused by alcohol exposure during pregnancy. When alcohol is used in pregnancy, it can hurt the unborn baby, creating lifelong struggles with social skills, behaviour, attention, learning, and health (e.g., hearing, heart, kidneys, bones) Individuals with FASD will experience some degree of challenges in their daily living, and need support with motor skills, physical health, learning, memory, attention, communication, emotional regulation, and social skills to reach their full potential.
Each individual with FASD is unique, with both strengths and challenges, but it is a lifelong disability, and it can be found in any community or group where alcohol is used, regardless of ethnicity, culture, or socio-economic status. Preventing FASD is more complex than recommending no alcohol use in pregnancy. The reasons why people may drink alcohol can vary, with each individual facing unique circumstances that can influence their ability to maintain a healthy pregnancy.
There is growing recognition that how much men drink before conception plays a role in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Research on fertility and reproduction “has been so woman-focused, so maternal centric, that we’ve not really done our due diligence on the male side”, says Michael Golding, a developmental physiologist at Texas A&M University, in August 2024.
Alcohol in a mother’s blood passes to a baby through the umbilical cord and placenta, but researchers have been unable to find a direct correlation between drinking levels and the severity of alcohol-related birth defects, instead stating that no alcohol consumption is safe. While there is nothing inherently wrong with this message, it has led to the firmly accepted belief that alcohol-related birth defects are caused only by maternal alcohol use during pregnancy and are the woman’s fault.
Nonetheless, there are multiple documented instances in which children diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome were born to mothers who denied that they consumed alcohol during pregnancy. The commonly accepted assumption and explanation for this is that these mothers lied about their alcohol use during pregnancy.
Using alcohol may affect the health and well-being of future children and even grandchildren. This can happen through something called epigenetics. In epigenetics, bits of the genome are switched “on” or “off” without any physical changes to the DNA sequence. These genomes being switched “on” or “off” modify the ability of the DNA being read by the cellular machinery, through processes such as DNA methylation, a common epigenetic signalling tool that cells use to lock genes in the “off” position. Research has found that alcohol disrupts the normal DNA methylation of sperm, which may go on to change how genes are expressed in the resulting embryo. (https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240801-fetal-alcohol-syndrome-the-overlooked-risk-of-fathers-who-drink) Researchers have also discovered that methylation is an important component in numerous cellular processes, including embryonic development, genomic imprinting, X-chromosome inactivation, and preservation of chromosome stability. (https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/the-role-of-methylation-in-gene-expression-1070/)
Research clearly shows that sperm carry a vast amount of epigenetic information, meaning heritable shifts in the way genes are expressed that don’t result from changes in the DNA sequence, which strongly influences fetal development and child health. Yet most doctors and other health care providers do not take into account the influence of paternal health and lifestyle choices on child development. (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fathers-drinking-may-be-linked-to-fetal-alcohol-syndrome/)
Randomized controlled trials involving mice, by Golding and other researchers, have found that the mouse offspring of alcohol-exposed dads, without alcohol exposure to moms, are more likely to show certain outcomes, including changes to the brain’s organization, the individual’s behaviour and motor skills.
While mouse models can, and often do, provide some ideas of what might be happening in terms of human processes, the modelling can only show that much more research is needed before determining the contributions of a father’s alcohol consumption in humans with any certainty. The role that a father’s drinking could play should not be ignored, and while the research is still ongoing, it’s time for public health campaigns to address this more directly. Preventing FASD is a parental responsibility, not just a mother’s.
The Saskatchewan Prevention Institute’s Be the Village campaign underscores the importance of supporting healthy pregnancies in our communities. “We know it takes a village to raise a child, and that support should begin during pregnancy.”, said Laura El Mir, Program Manager. “Whether you are a service provider, or a partner, family, friend, or community member, everyone has a role to play in preventing FASD.”
Here are some ways to be a village of support:
- Educate yourself and get involved: Learn about FASD, its causes, and its impacts. Learn about what makes it hard for people to stop drinking alcohol. Share this knowledge with others to increase awareness.
- Support and advocate for pregnant people: Ensure they have access to adequate nutrition, financial resources, addiction services, and services for those who are experiencing domestic violence.
- Organize and support local alcohol-free events: Reduce alcohol use around pregnant people. Host local events such as FASD awareness walks, health fairs, webinars, or workshops to educate the community and promote FASD awareness. Invite experts and individuals living with FASD to share their experiences and knowledge.
Collective support fosters FASD awareness and creates a society that supports healthy pregnancies and embraces individuals with FASD. Join the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute on International FASD Awareness Day and be a village of support to promote healthy pregnancies and prevent FASD.
The Saskatchewan Prevention Institute is a non-profit organization, founded in 1980, committed to reducing the occurrence of disabling conditions in children. The Saskatchewan Prevention Institute believes that children of all abilities have the right to the best physical, social, and emotional health possible.
For more information about the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, please visit www.skprevention.ca