September is FASD Awareness month and September 9 has been recognized as the day to remind every expectant mother not to consume alcohol for nine months. In short, “None for Nine”.

The Beaufort County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Department, the SC FASD Coalition and the team working on the SC Plan of Safe Care for substance affected infants and those with FASD, are coordinating this important message and trying to reach every woman of childbearing age to encourage them to abstain while pregnant.

No amount of alcohol use is known to be safe for a developing baby before birth. Exposure to alcohol from all types of beverages, including beer and wine, poses a risk to developing babies at every stage of pregnancy. An estimated 40,000 babies are born each year with FASDs, which can result in congenital disabilities, intellectual or learning disabilities, behavior problems, and trouble learning life skills.

The rates of FASDs are estimated to be comparable to the rates of Autism. Up to 1 in 20 U.S. school children may have an FASD. FASD-related disorders last a lifetime, and most people have an invisible disability.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are preventable if a developing baby is not exposed to alcohol before birth. BCADAD encourages expectant mothers to plan for a healthy baby--don’t drink any alcohol if you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or may be pregnant.

 And most importantly, if you become pregnant, stop drinking alcohol.