Alcohol Use During Pregnancy

Pregnancy and Before

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a range of birth defects that may occur when a woman drinks alcohol while she is pregnant. It is the leading cause of preventable developmental delays. Alcohol can damage the baby’s brain, organs and body and result in problems that will last a lifetime. Damage by alcohol to the fetus is most significant during the early weeks of pregnancy when a woman may not know she is pregnant. No amount or type of alcohol is safe during pregnancy and there is no safe time to drink alcohol while pregnant. For more information on alcohol use and pregnancy, please visit the health unit's website on health before pregnancy.

Between 2003 and 2007/08 in Simcoe Muskoka, an average of 45% (CI: 41%, 48%) of women ages 15 to 49 reported having a heavy drinking episode (5+ alcoholic drinks on one occasion) in the past 12 months. This was significantly higher than 34% (CI: 33%, 35%) reported by Ontario women. These data are from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS).