Alcohol and Pregnancy: Patient Experience and New SOGC Guideline

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed during this podcast are those of the individuals participating and do not necessarily represent the official position or opinion of the SOGC. Summary: Join guest host Julia Wykes, public education liaison at the SOGC, as she speaks with Dr. Nirmala Chandrasekaran and Ms. Janet Christie about the new SOGC guideline on alcohol use and cessation in pregnancy. The combination of personal, lived experience, with practical advice for both patients and healthcare providers, creates an emotional and memorable conversation. About Dr. Nirmala Chandrasekaran:Dr. Chandrasekaran is a Maternal–Fetal Medicine specialist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Toronto. She is a Staff Perinatologist at St. Michael’s Hospital, where she serves as Lead for Obstetrical Ultrasound, Lead for Obstetrics Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, and MFM Lead for the Perinatal Addictions Clinic. She holds multiple fellowships from the Royal Colleges in the UK and Canada and has received international distinctions. Her clinical and research interests include high-risk pregnancy, obstetric ultrasound, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, perinatal addictions, patient safety, and quality improvement.  About Janet Christie: Janet is a Certified Addiction Recovery Coach, speaker, and facilitator with over 30 years of personal recovery from multiple addictions. She helps women heal from the pain and stigma of addiction by challenging stereotypes and shifting societal paradigms. Janet has been instrumental in developing the FASD Key Worker Program in BC and the Moms Mentoring Moms initiative, supporting women in recovery and families affected by FASD. Her story has been widely published as an inspiring example of resilience and hope.