WHEN A woman

is pregnant and uses drugs, the drugs pass on to the fetus through the placenta. When breast-feeding, the drugs are fed to the baby through breast milk.

It is best to stop all alcoho! and other drug use before becoming pregnant, as well as while you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Effect on mother during pregnancy

Alcohol; May be damaging to ail

parts of the body. Women reach

higher bleod-alcohol levels than

men and aze slower to break down

alcohol. Many reproduction prob- - lems are possible. :

0 Tobacco: Risk of miscarriage or -

premature birth.

0 Marijuana:

Heavy = use

leads to poor

memory and

concentration

and respiratory

damage.

0 Cocaine,

crack and

other stim-

ulants: Risk

of miscarriage

or premature

birth; may cause weight loss, dam- age to heart, and risk of strokes.

O Opiates (such as heroine and methadone): Risk of miscarriage and stillbirth, risk of HIV/AIDS with needle use.

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MODERATION PROGRAMS cun help. Call WILMA DIXON, Director, for a free vonsultation. 732-4965

Effect on fetus

Alcohol: Risk of baby being born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or Fetal Alcohol Effect, which can result in the baby being born with a small head, abnormalities in the face, learning problems and other birth defects.

O Tobacco: Risk of low birth weight; risk of early death for newborns or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

O Marijuana: Some studies show babies may be born smailer than norma).

0 Cocaine, crack and other stimulants: Baby may be born small; kidney and limbs may be deformed; at risk to strokes; infants often irritable.

G Opiates (such as heroine and methadone): Risk of baby being

born smaller than normal; babies often barn addicted; and there is tisk of SIDS, With methadone, baby’s growth often catches up within a year, this is not so with heroin.

Effect on baby during breast-feeding

O Alcohol: Less breast milk is produced; baby can be irritable and drowsy. Aicohol passes into baby’s body and developing brain. O Tobacco: Less milk is pro- duced, so breast-feeding is diffi- cult.

O Marijuana: Drug is passed to breast milk. Less milk is produced, so breast-feeding is more difficult. O Cocaine, crack and other stimulants: Babies can be irrita-

fect on bai

() Opiates (such as heroine and methadone): Babies may become drowsy, with failure to thrive. Breast-feeding is not advised.

It is best to reduce the amount of use and to ask doctors or other

health care workers for informa- tion and referrals. Any drug that is toxic to the mother. is toxic to the fetus. Information courtesy the Vancouver YWCA.

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LIONS GATE HOSPITAL

A Caring Community

“There’sa great myth about nutritionists,” says Dianna Jaman, Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist B . . ur . ‘oy . 8 . . 7 ,

(RDN) at Lions Gate Hospital. “People think that we're just concerned with weight Joss. That's

part of it, but the truth is that we focus on the oral nutritional well-being of our patients.”

Many Ways to Help

In addition to planning meals suited to che needs of patients at LGH, such as special diets for thase recovering from heart attacks or for women experiencing dietary difficulties during pregnancy, the ren member ream of RDNs work on several outpatient programs including the Diabetes Day Centre, Bodysense, and the Outpatient Chemotherapy Clinic. They also operate a Public Education Centre and offer individual consultations.

A RDN Dianna Inman helps mom-to-be Susan Stewart inaintain a healthy pregnancy with nutritious food choices.

Food for Thought

The Canada Food Guide changed in 1992, but Jnman siys people still have trouble when planning a meal. A giant steak with a small baked potato isn’t the bese idea. “When you look at your plate, starch should be the big portion,” says Inman. “Have owo servings of vegetables and one small protein.

“We give people survival information. We teach them how to make the necessary changes in their diet so that they can take charge of their health,” says Inman, “Eating properly is one way to take control.”

festive Foods from the Diabetes Support Group

Shortbread cookies, mincemeat tarts, calorie charged cheesecakes - the holiday buffer can be a mine field for anyone watching their sugar and fat intake, For that reason, the Lions Gate Hospital’s Diabetes Support Group is hosting a “Festive Foods” night on November {6th at 7:30, where people with diabetes will be introduced to delicious holiday foad alternatives.

Heading toa festive banquet? RDN Danielle Bergstrom, the evening's guest speaker has these

helpful tips:

* Eat a bit before you leave, so you're not starving, ¢ Plan ahead; if you want dessert, lighten up on the main course.

tL

* Go for a walk alter cating to bring blood sugar down.

For more information about the Digbetes Support Group or “Pestive Foods” call 984-5752.

A “ Bodysense” instructor Sharron Drinkwater offers new approaches to weight contral.

Lose W eight W ithout Dieting!

Making changes, not counting calories is the focus of “Bodysense,” one of Lions Gate Hospital's most popularout-patient programs.

“We see people who have tried everything and nothing has worked for them,” says Outpatient RDN Sharron Drinkwater. “Bodysense” ceaches people to lose or maintain weight independently, gradually, and consistently. One of the biggest misconceptions people have is chat chey have to starve themselves to lose weight.”

The 14-session course is based on the workbook “Bodysense™ by Judy Toews RDN, and focuses on cating patterns, exercise and making lifestyle changes.

Sign Lip Now! The next “Bodysense” course starts January

Oth. The cost is $160.00, Register by calling 984-5752,

x,