“It Was Just One Glass…” – Why That Myth Doesn’t Hold Up
MYTH: FASD only happens if someone drinks a lot during pregnancy.
REALITY: It doesn’t take a bottle of wine, a bachelorette party, or a wild night in Banff. FASD can happen even if someone has just a little alcohol—and here’s why that matters.
Let’s Break It Down 👇
🚫 No Amount Is a Safe Amount
Here’s the truth: there is no known safe level of alcohol during pregnancy. None. Zero. Zilch. Whether it’s a sip of champagne or a “just one glass” moment at book club, alcohol crosses the placenta and heads straight for the baby.
And here’s the kicker—your baby’s tiny liver? It can’t handle it. At all. In fact, fetal blood alcohol levels can match or exceed the mother’s and hang around a lot longer. Kind of like that one guest who doesn’t know when to leave.
📚 CanFASD Research: “Dose-Response” Issue Paper
📚 Minding the Brain Podcast: Alcohol and the Developing Brain
🧠 The Brain Builds All Pregnancy Long
This isn’t just a first-trimester thing. The brain is developing from day one to delivery, which means alcohol can interfere at any stage—even before someone knows they’re pregnant.
From neurons and memory to impulse control and emotional regulation, a baby’s brain is building non-stop. Alcohol? It’s like tossing a wrench into that process. A neurotoxic wrench, to be specific.
📚 CanFASD: Nature Reviews: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
🙃 "But My Cousin's Friend Drank and Her Kid’s Fine…"
Ah yes, the anecdotal defense. Here’s the thing: not all effects of FASD are visible. In fact, many individuals with FASD have no outward physical signs—but may still struggle with memory, attention, emotional regulation, and impulse control. That doesn’t make it less real—it just makes it harder to see (and often, harder to diagnose).
💚 Why This Myth Needs to Be Retired
Believing that “only heavy drinking” causes FASD leads to:
Missed diagnoses for people who need support
Shame or guilt for parents who didn’t know the risks
Silence, when what we really need is conversation, compassion, and clarity
So, What’s the Takeaway?
If you're pregnant, planning to be, or supporting someone who is—play it safe. Skip the alcohol. No shame, no scare tactics—just science, support, and smart choices.
At Foothills Fetal Alcohol Society, we’re here to walk with you. Whether it’s education, prevention, or support—we believe knowledge is power, and that healthy pregnancies start with healthy conversations.
We are here. 💚
