Pause to reflect on perils of drinking alcohol while pregnant

The community in Roebourne joined thousands around the world to pause and reflect on the devastating effects of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder this month.

This symbolic gesture, made on the ninth day of the ninth month, represents the nine months of pregnancy to raise awareness about the effects of consuming alcohol when pregnant.

Mawarnkarra Health Service Elaine Laraia program manager said the time provided women with the opportunity to consider an alcohol free pregnancy and share this prevention message across the community.

“With more than 40 staff, individuals and government agencies attending it has been a great turnout,” she said.

“We have had a range of activities and resources available such as videos, pamphlets and standard drink demonstrations, followed by a community BBQ.

“At the moment Roebourne is being positive and would like to lead in terms of acknowledging issues like FASD in the community.”

Registered midwife Paula Doherty had a unique way to explain the idea behind FASD Awareness Day to the community, using a short white rope to demonstrate the umbilical connection between mother and her unborn child.

“To heighten international awareness of the disorder, they came up with the idea of the reef knot,” she said.

"When you do a reef knot, the circle within a reef knot represents the pregnant uterus, or the unborn babies' brain.

"As you tie the reef knot, there's two parts. One represents the cord going to the mum's placenta and the spinal cord".

“They chose the reef knot to represent the community supporting pregnant women in not drinking... the tighter it is, the tighter and stronger the community.”

FASD can be debilitating for many sufferers who grow up with a variety of conditions including; facial abnormalities, growth deficiencies, skeletal deformities, organ deformities, central nervous system handicaps and behavioural problems in later life.

Child health nurse Larissa Smart said increasing awareness of the vast 'spectrum of disorders' associated with FASD was crucial to better diagnosis and treatment programs.

“There is no cure for FASD and it doesn’t receive funding under the National Disability Scheme,” she said.

“Programs can be put into place for the child living with FASD, based around school and structuring their environment and a strong relationship needs to be established with the mother for her to admit she drank during pregnancy, otherwise diagnosis is impossible.

“But of course prevention is the best cure, so it’s education days like this that are really important.”