What if your family member or friend says she drank during

another pregnancy and the baby was okay? Remind her that

every baby is different and that there is no known safe

amount of alcohol to drink during pregnancy or even during

breastfeeding.

Suggest Alcohol-Free Activities

The best time for a woman to stop drinking is before she

gets pregnant, but helping your family member or friend

stop now can still help her baby. If you stop drinking, this

will help her stop drinking, too. You can still enjoy a good

time together, engaging in the following activities:

❖ Go for a walk or treat yourselves to a movie and a pizza. 

❖ With approval from her medical provider, exercise

together—take a swim or ride bikes.

❖ Meet with friends and toast the baby-to-be with 

healthy drinks like milk, water, or juice. Everyone can

have fun while the mother-to-be helps herself have a

healthy baby.

If you need more ideas on alcohol-free activities, ask for

advice from elders, family members, friends, and co-workers,

and visit or call your local clinic or community center. By

showing you care, you are helping a mother give her baby a

healthy start in life. 

American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Initiative 

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Yourself, Your Family Member,

or Friend Be an Alcohol-Free 

Mother-To-Be: 

Tips for Native Women

How To Help

* May, P.A., and Gossage, J.P. 2001. Estimating the prevalence 

of fetal alcohol syndrome: A summary. Alcohol Research & 

Health 25(3):159-167. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 07–4264

Printed 2007

Pregnancy is Sacred

For more information, visit fasdcenter.samhsa.gov 

or call 866-STOPFAS.

www.stopalcoholabuse.gov
Your Advice Matters

You could be a mother or even a sister, a cousin, an aunt, or agrandmother. You could be a close friend or a co-worker. If

you’re close to a pregnant woman who drinks alcohol, you can

help her in ways you might not realize. Alcohol hurts at least

40,000 babies born each year.* Women of any age, income, or

educational level who drink alcohol during pregnancy risk 

causing problems to their fetus, families, and futures.

If you know someone who is (or may become) pregnant, don’t

be afraid to talk—and listen—to her. Some pregnant women

who are careful not to smoke or use drugs during pregnancy

may not know that even small amounts of alcohol can hurt their

babies. Any information you can share will mean a lot. You’ll

show her that you care about her and her baby. 

If you are a woman of childbearing age who is pregnant, is

planning to get pregnant, or may become pregnant, read this

information carefully and consider changes you may need to

make. Pregnant women and the people closest to them all

want the same thing—strong, healthy babies. Help your family

member, friend, and yourself make the safe choice to not drink

alcohol during pregnancy.

Information To Share

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy may cause mild to severe

problems, called “fetal alcohol spectrum disorders” (FASD).

These problems may include lifelong physical, mental, 

behavioral, and/or learning disabilities.

Children whose mothers drank during pregnancy may need 

surgeries to fix physical problems. They may also have brain

damage that can make it hard to remember things or solve

problems. They may not be able to follow simple instructions or

form friendships. These challenges may make it difficult to focus

in school or follow everyday routines.

The following are important facts to remember and share 

about FASD:

❖ FASD is permanent. It cannot be cured.

❖ FASD is 100 percent preventable. If a woman doesn’t drink

when she’s pregnant, her baby will not have an FASD.

❖ There is no known safe time, safe amount, or safe type of

alcohol to drink while pregnant. Beer and wine are just as

harmful as hard liquor.

❖ If a pregnant woman stops drinking as soon as possible, she

can improve her chances of having a healthy baby.

People with an FASD can grow, improve, and succeed in life

with the right support, but you can help prevent problems like

those mentioned above from even starting.

The Role Native Women Can Play

Native women can have an important role in preventing FASD.

As grandmothers, mothers, aunties, cousins, sisters, daughters,

and friends, women understand the challenges and stresses of

personal relationships, work, and bringing up children. Some

people feel that women who drink alcohol while pregnant are 

uneducated or uncaring. Others may believe that members of

certain groups (e.g., middle or upper class) do not have 

problems with FASD. The reality is that any woman can have a

child with an FASD. It is especially important for women to keep

open minds and to avoid harsh opinions or false assumptions.

Being open and accepting will make it easier for other women

to talk to you about their problems and concerns.

Start the Conversation

Sometimes it’s tough to start “the conversation” with a 

pregnant friend or family member who is drinking alcohol. Find

a quiet place to sit and talk about having a healthy baby. Use a

gentle tone of voice, and let her know that you care about her

and her child. Remember that your opinion means a lot. Here

are some things you might want to talk about: 

❖ Ask her how she is feeling, and remind her that pregnancy is

a sacred time. 

❖ Share some of the facts about the problems alcohol can

cause and how to prevent FASD. 

❖ Tell her that drinking alcohol during pregnancy can hurt the

baby—the baby drinks whatever she drinks. Alcohol goes

into the bloodstream and passes to the baby through the

umbilical cord.

❖ Explain that a baby’s body cannot get rid of alcohol the

same way that adult bodies can. 

❖ Ask her to talk about problems 

that may be causing her to drink

alcohol. 

❖ Remind her that she can talk to 

you whenever she wants, and 

be sure to check in on her 

occasionally.

❖ Help her connect with a

counselor or support

group for additional

information.