Alcohol danger to fetus stressed

Doctors are giving women mixed messages about the dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy, the Alcohol Advisory Council says.

Spokeswoman Sandra Kirby said an estimated two to three New Zealand babies in 1000 could have fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), which can result in mental retardation and behavioural and learning problems.

Next Friday is International FASD Awareness Day.

Ms Kirby said that while people had taken on board the message against drinking and driving, there was a reluctance among some doctors to advise women against drinking any alcohol during pregnancy.

Alac is also managing an application for the labelling of alcohol beverages advising of the dangers of drinking while pregnant.

"However, labels on their own will achieve nothing. A hard message must come from the medical profession on the dangers of drinking while pregnant," Ms Kirby said.

She was "horrified but not surprised" at new research showing millions of Australian women were unaware of the dangers of drinking while pregnant.

"This is a worldwide problem; it is a problem here in New Zealand, and all women need to be given a sharp warning and a clear and consistent message that they should not drink during pregnancy," she said.

"Drinking alcohol during pregnancy exposes the unborn child to the risk of FASD, which can result in a variety of disorders ranging from central nervous problems, low birth weight, abnormal facial features, mental retardation and behavioural and learning problems throughout their life. Many people don't even understand what FASD is.

"There's only one advice. Don't drink while pregnant or if you are intending to become pregnant."

Ms Kirby said the prevalence of FASD here was unknown, but international figures suggested about two to three babies in every 1000 have FASD. Three to four times as many are estimated to suffer partial effects.

A 1999 New Zealand survey has found that over 80 per cent of pregnant teenagers and nearly 40 per cent of expectant adults exposed their unborn children to the risk of permanent brain damage by drinking.

Researchers from Massey University, who interviewed nearly 500 midwives, found that many women were getting conflicting advice from their doctors about the dangers of drinking while pregnant and did not understand why it was unsafe.

The survey, which took in 14,100 of the 56,550 births in 1999, found that 82 per cent of teenage mothers and 36 per cent of adult women had at least one drink while pregnant, even when they knew it was dangerous.

About 10 per cent of the women involved drank at the levels that put their babies at fairly high risk of developing behavioural problems, concentration difficulties and retardation and flattened facial features.

Nearly 5 per cent drank more than one glass of alcohol a day and 4 per cent were classed as binge or heavy drinkers.

- NZPA