Circle Park: Alcohol Use During Pregnancy

ALCOHOL

USE DURING PREGNANCY

story by Erica Buffkin, Community Prevention Specialist, Circle Park Behavioral Health Services

AND THE EFFECTS OF FETAL

ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS

According to the CDC, nearly twenty percent of women of child bearing age participate in binge drinking in South Carolina. It can take anywhere from four to six weeks for a woman to know that she is pregnant and drinking during pregnancy can cause a group of conditions called Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD’s). These disorders can cause both physical problems and problems with behavior and learning. If you are pregnant or think you may be, stop drinking alcohol to reduce or remove the risk of these conditions. FASDs can occur in any child that is exposed to alcohol through the umbilical cord prior to birth. There is no safe amount of alcohol to drink during pregnancy. There’s not a safe time to drink. Also, there’s no alcoholic drink that’s better or healthier than others while you’re pregnant. Because the brain continues to grow throughout pregnancy, it is never too late to stop drinking. The sooner alcohol use is removed from a pregnancy, the more the baby’s health will improve. There are several different diagnoses that are part of the FASD spectrum. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is the most complicated diagnosis and affects the central nervous system, facial features and growth. Children with FAS can also have problems with memory, attention span, communication, vision or hearing. Drinking during pregnancy can also increase the risk of miscarriage, premature delivery and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. A range of effects caused by FASDs can appear in a child that was exposed to alcohol before birth including: low body weight, poor coordination, difficulty with attention, poor memory, difficulty in school, learning disabilities, speech and language delays, intellectual disabilities, low IQ, vision and hearing difficulties, smaller head size, abnormal facial features and many more symptoms. While there is no cure for FASDs, early prevention can improve a child's development. The Chrysalis Center in Florence, SC provides a safe, stable environment for pregnant mothers and mothers with children under the age of 10 who are dependent on alcohol or other substances. The Chrysalis Center is a unique extended-term residential treatment program. Managed by Circle Park Behavioral Health Services, the Chrysalis Center was established in 1994 and is located at 1430 South Cashua in Florence. It provides living quarters for 16 women and up to two of their children under the age of 10. Each of the women and their children have a private bedroom and bathroom.

The program provides treatment for up to 120 days for women and their children and offers a safe, structured and stable environment. This allows the women to focus on and receive an array of life skills as well as extensive individual and group addiction therapy. The Chrysalis Center provides onsite medical services and scheduled physician visits to ensure that medical screenings and services are available for the women and their children. Appointments and transportation to other medical services in Florence are readily available as needed.

The Chrysalis Center offers a holistic approach that focuses on providing stabilization, life management, relapse prevention, parenting skills and personal growth. The longer the women stay in services, the more it strengthens their skills and confidence in establishing a successful recovery and becoming a productive individual and parent. The Chrysalis Center works closely with other local and statewide behavioral health agencies to receive referrals regardless of what county a woman and her children may reside. Anyone interested in utilizing the services at the Chrysalis Center or desiring more information can call 843-673-0660 or visit chrysaliscenter.com.