In this week’s episode of Dr Golly and the Experts of LiSTNR, the invisible disability of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is covered, with mum Sophie
When Sophie discovered she was pregnant, she was filled with joy but also concern as she thought back to the nights that she had enjoyed a glass of wine before knowing she was expecting.
Fourteen years later, her son was diagnosed with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
This week, Sophie shares the struggles her son faces, how she and her husband have supported him and her passion to break down the stigmas surrounding FASD.
Dr Golly is available for interviews.
1.56 – During the time Sophie was pregnant, the guidelines were that you could drink up to two glasses/standard drinks per sitting and no more than ten in a week. The guidelines changed in 2020 and state that women should not drink at all even whilst trying to conceive or are breastfeeding.
25.49 – When Sophie’s husband asked their son to ‘put the bacon on the BBQ’ he put the whole pile of bacon on without separating them.
27.36 – Sophie’s son and his partner are expecting a baby soon. Whilst Sophie has no concerns on how they will care for the baby, certain parts of her son’s condition don’t allow for things like forward thinking. Eg. Making sure there is enough nappies, making sure they sterilize bottles etc.
LISTEN HERE: Dr Golly and the Experts - LiSTNR Podcasts
ABOUT DR GOLLY AND THE EXPERTS:
He’s spoken with sports broadcaster Hamish McLachlan about West syndrome, Em Rusciano about the way kids on the spectrum are treated, Dr Norman Swan about traumatic brain injuries, Johanna Scully and Georgia Barnes about the incredible experience of surrogacy; former AFL players Jordan Lewis and Jarryd Roughead on cancer and concussions, and he’s even shared his own experience with his daughter Olympia being born with Craniosynostosis; so there’s no mistaking that Dr Daniel Golshevsky’s LiSTNR original podcast, Dr Golly and the Experts is making a difference for listeners, and interviewees alike.
In Dr Golly and the Experts, Dr Golshevsky (Dr Golly) talks with ‘experts’ - patients and parents who have, through necessity, become a specialist in their specific health journey, from diagnosis to day-to-day treatment and beyond. The stories are sometimes painful, often heart-warming and always inspiring and told through the voices and hearts of high-profile Australians as they talk to Dr Golly, a Melbourne-based paediatrician and father of three.
Given his unique position as former Chief Resident Medical Officer at The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Dr Golly has treated many high-profile Australian families as they deal with medical conditions ranging from epilepsy, autism, eczema, sleep deprivation, croup and ADHD, and he has a rare talent as an expert, and as an expert translator. He’s a pleasure to listen to. In talking to patients and parents, Dr Golly shares their challenges confronting a diagnosis, managing their own struggles, and finding solutions and treatment for their children, and themselves.
“It's one thing to study and practice medicine for decades, and be able to talk about different conditions when it comes to both children's and adult health and development, but it’s another thing entirely to live through the experience as a patient and most often, a parent,” said Dr Golly.
Rich in storytelling and combined with Dr Golly’s evidence-based explainers, this podcast delivers compelling interviews with information for parents battling significant parenting obstacles and long term medical issues. There’s few episodes where tissues aren’t needed.