Tyler (FAE, 5) with sisters Julie (13) and Ashley (2)

Yvette is a recovering alcoholic with 6 yrs of sobriety. She went to treatment on Dec. 28th, 1991. Unfortunately, she was 5 months pregnant with Tyler when she went. He was born with permanent brain damage because she had heard that "one or two drinks a day can't hurt the fetus". She continued to drink although less than before the pregnancy began. Tyler was born May 4, 1992. He had developmental problems which were undiagnosed until he entered preschool in January of 1997. He was then thought to be ADD/ADHD. In the summer of 1997, Yvette learned Tyler was FAE, or Fetal Alcohol Effect(s/ed). Although her older daughter, Julie, now 13, and her younger daughter, Ashley, now 2 1/2, are unaffected because Yvette did not consume alcohol with Julie and was sober when Ashley came,  Tyler is going to suffer lifelong struggles from the prenatal alcohol exposure.

Yvette's message is that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. And if you are thinking of becoming pregnant, stop drinking NOW. If you find out you are pregnant, and are still drinking GET HELP. Go to treatment, if necessary. If you know you drank during pregnancy and need help getting a diagnosis for your child, or are afraid to, remember that getting a diagnosis is the first step to helping your child make the most of his strengths and the least of his weaknesses.

If you have questions about being the bio-mom to an alcohol-affected child, or just need to talk, email Yvette at AlphaMom33@AOL.COM
Visit Yvette's home page.

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