Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is believed to affect 1 in 100 people because of alcohol use during pregnancy.

FASD Diagnostic Coordinator Marijke Vonderbank with Southern Health-Sante Sud says Friday, September 9, is FASD Awareness Day and this day represents the nine months of pregnancy. Vonderbank says it's never wise to drink any alcohol during pregnancy.

"It actually affects the development of the [baby's] brain and that's why, often, it's called the invisible disability because, outwardly, there's not often symptoms or characteristics that we see," notes Vonderbank. "So, usually 90% of individuals that are diagnosed don't have any outward symptoms and it all comes out in behaviour or development delays or challenges like that."

Vonderbank says she has never met a mother who purposely wanted to harm her child, but the dangerous effects of alcohol during pregnancy seem to still be underestimated.

"There's not one time [during the pregnancy] that might be worse or better [to drink]. The best thing is just to stay away from alcohol altogether if you're planning on getting pregnant or as soon as you find out that you're pregnant."

She adds, though FASD may affect every child differently, often children with FASD struggle academically and are delayed developmentally as well adding, "It's a very good idea to have that early diagnosis so we have a better understanding of how that child functions. What that child's strengths are but also what their weaknesses are so that we can put supports in place in school where they need it. Then, as the child grows older, to have caregivers around them who are very understanding of their disability."