Prince George, BC – At 9:09 this morning, a ‘Pregnant Pause’ will occur at the Child Development Centre in Prince George to mark International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Day…

First held back in 1999, FASD Day is on the 9th day of the 9th month in recognition of the nine months of pregancy and how important those months are to a child’s healthy development. (photo at right used with permission)

Members of two local groups supporting families affected by the disorder will put balloons up their shirts to emphasize the moment.  "And we’re just really going to pay some attention to the importance of pregnancy in prevention," says Nancy Shorter Lowrie, the Family Support Worker for a federal support program run by the Elizabeth Fry Society.  Today’s event is held in partnership with Northern Health’s Structured For Success program.  This evening, the group, Street Spirits, will perform a play called ‘Seventeen’ about a young woman who gives birth to a child with FASD.  The production is for an adult audience only in room 1-306 at CNC.  The doors opens at 7pm, with admission by donation.

FASD affects nine in 1,000 births in Canada.  "It crosses all the social and economic boundaries – it can happen to anybody – and we want to focus on prevention," says Shorter Lowrie.  "We want to get out there that alcohol can affect a baby at any point during pregnancy and there is no known safe amount for a woman to drink."

She says the disorder is an ‘invisible injury’, it’s an actual brain injury that is very difficult to ‘see’. 

"It’s very difficult to diagnose, very frequently the ‘face’ of FASD is behaviour in people.  They’re seen as, ‘they can’t do it, they can’t get along with others, they just don’t listen,’ but the reality is they can’t listen."

"There’s a saying that we have – they’re 10-second people in a one-second world," says the support worker.  "So, what might take you and I one-second to process or to think about or decide on, they need a lot longer."

The local CAP-C FADER program – the Community Action Program for Children, Fetal Alcohol and Drug Effects Resource Coalition – is meant to be a ‘first step’ for parents.  "I can help them find the resources that they need," says Shorter Lowrie, "I can even just offer being that ‘someone to talk to’ to bounce things around and say, ‘Yes, this might be a concern here’s where we would start.  Here’s some things that you can do at home, but here’s a direction that you could take to get an assessment or a diagnosis.’"

Shorter Lowrie also offers programming to families with children aged 0 to 6 years who might need support in any area, out of the South Fort George Family Resource Centre.  There are two free childrens’ drop-in programs at the centre on La Salle Avenue – the Little Artists program from 1:30pm to 2:30pm on Wednesdays and Read to Me on Friday mornings from 10:00am until 10:45am.

Anyone wanting more information can call 250-614-0684 or email nancy@pgefry.bc.ca