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#DRYMESTER is a new health awareness campaign for Greater Manchester, highlighting the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy and the impact of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

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A place for connecting and sharing resources across Greater Manchester for professionals, families, and people with FASD.

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Home 2024 - Greater Manchester FASD Network (gmfasdnetwork.info)

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Home 2024 - Greater Manchester FASD Network

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This is a place for connecting and sharing resources across Greater Manchester for professionals, families and people with FASD. Greater Manchester is one of

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NHS website that explains what FASD is.

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Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

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If you drink alcohol during pregnancy you risk causing harm to your baby. Sometimes this can result in mental and physical problems in the baby, called foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
FASD can happen when alcohol in the mother's blood passes to her baby through the placenta.

Your baby cannot process alcohol well, which means it can stay in their body for a long time. Alcohol can damage their brain and body and stop them from developing normally in the womb.

This can result in the loss of the pregnancy. Babies who survive may be left with lifelong problems.

Characteristics of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)

FASD can cause problems with:

movement, balance, vision and hearing

learning, such as problems with thinking, concentration, and memory

managing emotions and developing social skills

hyperactivity and impulse control

communication, such as problems with speech

the joints, muscles, bones, and organs, such as the kidneys and heart

These problems are permanent, though early treatment and support can help limit their impact on a child's life.

The type of FASD symptoms a baby has and how severe they are is different depending on how often, and how much, the mother drank during pregnancy. The greater the amount of alcohol consumed, the more severe the symptoms tend to be.

What to do if you think your child has foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)

Speak to a GP or health visitor if you have any concerns about your child's development or think they could have FASD.

If the condition is not diagnosed early and your child does not receive appropriate support, they're more likely to experience bigger challenges associated with the condition.

For example, they may have difficulties with learning, have challenging behaviours, mental health problems, and find it difficult to get a job and live independently as an adult.

A doctor or health visitor will need to know if your child was exposed to alcohol during pregnancy to help make a diagnosis of FASD.

Your child may be referred to a specialist team for an assessment if there's a possibility they have the condition.

This usually involves physical examinations and blood tests to rule out genetic conditions that have similar characteristics to FASD.

Treatment and support for foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)

There is no particular treatment for FASD, and the damage to a child's brain and body cannot be reversed. But an early diagnosis and support can make a big difference.

Once the condition has been diagnosed, a team of healthcare professionals can assess your child's needs and offer appropriate educational and behavioural strategies.

You may also find it helpful to contact a support group for people with FASD. These can be a good source of advice and they may be able to connect you with other people in a similar situation.

Find support from:

You might also want to ask your care team if they know of any local groups in your area.

Preventing foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)

FASD is completely avoidable if you do not drink alcohol while you're pregnant.

The risk of FASD is higher the more you drink. There's no proven "safe" level of alcohol in pregnancy. Not drinking at all is the safest approach.

If you're pregnant and struggling with an alcohol problem, talk to a midwife or doctor.

Confidential help and support is also available from:

Drinkaware has a national alcohol helpline called Drinkline; if you're worried about your own or someone else's drinking, call the free helpline on 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm)

We Are With You - a charity providing free, confidential support for drugs, alcohol and mental health problems, and a directory of drug and alcohol services around the UK

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) - a free self-help group; its "12-step" programme involves getting sober with the help of regular support groups

National Organisation for FASD has a helpline - 020 8458 5951 (you leave a message and someone returns your call)

You can also find your nearest alcohol support services or read advice on cutting down your drinking and alcohol in pregnancy.

Page last reviewed: 04 April 2023
Next review due: 04 April 2026

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Find out about foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, which is a range of mental and physical problems that can affect a child if their mother drinks alcohol while pregnant.

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FASD Network  is  an organisation that specialises in providing information, support and training on FASD.

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FASD Network UK - Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

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FASD Network is an organisation that specialises in providing information, support and training on FASD. It was founded in 2011 in the Durham Tees Valley region which is an area that includes: Durham, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Darlington and Redcar & Cleveland. Our work has since expanded into the north to include Northumbria, Tyneside and Wearside and also to the south to cover the Yorkshire, Hull and East Riding areas. Whilst we have a UK wide remit to press for change, our particular focus is on the Northern regions and we firmly believe that local services are best delivered by local people and local organisations.
Key Services
We provide support groups for families who are raising children with FASD on a termly basis. We also admin a closed Facebook group called FASD UK which provides daily peer to peer input for families which in turn breaks isolation and offers timely solutions to daily needs. If you are raising a child with FASD in the North East and Yorkshire then please click on this link to register with us so we can add you to the mailing list. ﻿
We provide bespoke training for organisations requiring further knowledge about FASD and how to support individuals and families more effectively. Training is regularly delivered to foster carers, adopters, kinship carers, birth families, social workers, alcohol professionals, midwives, health visitors, early years workers, teachers, police, policy makers, paediatricians and broader health agencies.
Please contact us to discuss your training requirements.

REGISTRATION ﻿

Strategic Development
We work with a range of partners to examine structural service deficits in the UK and advocate for change. Inter-disciplinary networks facilitate the ongoing development of strategic objectives to address this public heath concern and improve outcomes for people affected by FASD.

We conduct our own research and work with multi-agency partners to develop research opportunities which will address knowledge gaps and promote funding of services which are currently absent. If you are interested in research then please get in touch and let us know how we can partner with you.
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UK Based Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Family Support and Training Organisation.

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Dedicated to supporting people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), their families and communities. It promotes education for professionals and public awareness about the risks of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

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The National FASD website is a vital resource for information and support related to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, offering guidance and support.

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Supports the FASD community and raise awareness of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). These two aims are met by providing support and friendship groups, activity days, education, training, and information to the FASD community and the wider population.

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FASD is the term used to describe the lifelong impairments that can result from brain damage caused by alcohol exposure before birth. These impairments might become evident as difficulties with physical activities, speech and language, memory, learning and behaviour issues. Offering support, education, training, research and information on Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).

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Support group for families affected by FASD

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Here you will find lots of fun and interesting things to help you learn about FASD.

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This website is packed full of ideas to help you understand and own your diagnosis.

It's written with advice from adults and young people in the UK who have FASD and a whole team of experts and families.

We also would really like to hear from you. Contact us!

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Me & My FASD. Learn about FASD. Explore and have fun!

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This website is packed full of ideas to help you understand and own your diagnosis. It's written with advice from adults and young people in the UK who have FASD and a whole team of experts and families. We also would really like to hear from you. Contact us!

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Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children (focus on FASD) - Podcast

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Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children (focus on FASD) - Podcast

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Doctors Sara and Lisa speak with Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Raja Mukherjee about neurodevelopmental disorders in children. He has an interest in Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and this is the focus of the talk.

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Doctors Sara and Lisa speak with Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Raja Mukherjee about neurodevelopmental disorders in children. He has an interest in Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and this is the focus of the talk. We cover what neurodevelopmental disorders are, discuss neurodiversity, common disorders such as Autism, ADHD, Dyspraxia aka Developmental Coordination Disorder and Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Useful resources:

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We really want to make these episodes relevant and helpful: if you have any questions or want any particular areas covered then contact us on Twitter @PCKBpodcast, or leave a comment on our really quick anonymous survey here: https://pckb.org/feedback

This podcast has been made with the support of GP Excellence and Wigan CCG. Given that it is recorded with Greater Manchester clinicians, the information discussed may not be applicable elsewhere and it is important to consult local guidelines before making any treatment decisions.

The information presented is the personal opinion of the healthcare professional interviewed and might not be representative to all clinicians. It is based on their interpretation of current best practice and guidelines when the episode was recorded. Guidelines can change; To the best of our knowledge the information in this episode is up to date as of it's release but it is the listeners responsibility to review the information and make sure it is still up to date when they listen.

Dr Lisa Adams, Dr Sara MacDermott and their interviewees are not liable for any advice, investigations, course of treatment, diagnosis or any other information, services or products listeners might pursue as a result of listening to this podcast - it is the clinicians responsibility to appraise the information given and review local and national guidelines before making treatment decisions. Reliance on information provided in this podcast is solely at the listeners risk.

The podcast is designed to be used by trained healthcare professionals for education only. We do not recommend these for patients or the general public and they are not to be used as a method of diagnosis, opinion, treatment or medical advice for the general public. Do not delay seeking medical advice based on the information contained in this podcast. If you have questions regarding your health or feel you may have a medical condition then promptly seek the opinion of a trained healthcare professional.

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Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children (focus on FASD) | Primary Care Knowledge Boost

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Doctors Sara and Lisa speak with Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Raja Mukherjee about neurodevelopmental disorders in children. He has an interest in Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and this is the focus of the talk. We cover what neurodevelopmental disorders are, discuss neurodiversity, common disorders such as Autism, ADHD, Dyspraxia aka Developmental Coordination Disorder and Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

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There is a FASD e-learning module which is available to access using a licence code. The number of licences is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The licences are available until the end of this year (2026).

To request a licence code or further details, please contact: gmhscp.adminpopulationhealth@nhs.net