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Partners and fathers are enormously important when it comes to FASD.
The first role they play is avoiding alcohol when trying for a baby. New research shows that alcohol does indeed affect sperm and can contribute to miscarriage, stillbirth and birth defects, some of which are similar to those acquired from Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE) in the womb.
The next role men play is in supporting their partners in an alcohol-free pregnancy – wāhine hapu / pregnant women must be supported by the entire whānau to have an alcohol-free pregnancy and partners can help with this.
However, if a diagnosis of FASD has been reached, there are many ways men can be an involved and contributing parent. Tamariki and rangatahi can be extremely challenging on both individual caregivers / parents and on marriages / partnerships, so it's essential for parents to be on the same page and back each other up. Become as FASD-informed as possible, attend the same courses as your partner, and become a coach, mentor and role model.
• FASD-CAN has an info sheet on 'FASD and Epigenetics' – the contribution of healthy sperm to a fetus.
• Elizabeth Elliot, Chair of the advisory group for FASD-Hub Australia introduces this recording of a webinar on the subject held in September 2022 about the male role in FASD.
Click here to watch the video.
Other resources mentioned in the webinar can be accessed here:
In Aotearoa, we have a few websites (not FASD-specific) for dads including:
• Fathers for Families (ten week course through Family Success Matters)
• Health Navigator NZ has more.
