Pregnancy and drinking alcohol

6 September 2010

Every Child Counts Media Statement

Pregnancy and drinking alcohol

‘Let’s all raise awareness of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) among our own communities,’ said Murray Edridge, chairperson of Every Child Counts today. ‘Every Child Counts supports FASD Awareness Day, 9 September, as a way of doing this.’

The message is a very simple one: if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, don’t drink alcohol.

‘The message may be simple,’ continued Murray, ‘but the problem is that it goes against the New Zealand culture of social drinking. That’s why we all have a responsibility to take the message into our families, friendships, workplaces, sports clubs, social and cultural groups, churches and other faith communities. It is within those social networks that the message will be most effective.’

Medical recognition of FASD has only occurred in the last 50 years or so, and as a consequence it is easy to see why general awareness of the problem is still growing. It is further complicated by the fact that sometimes a woman may not realise that she is pregnant at the time she is drinking. Other factors can include the mother using alcohol to alleviate personal stress, or even personal dependency upon alcohol.

‘Whatever the reasons for drinking among pregnant mothers, the fact is significant numbers of New Zealand women continue to do so. The 2007/2008 NZ Alcohol and Drug Use Survey found, for example, that a third of the women surveyed reported that they had drunk alcohol while pregnant,’ continued Murray Edridge.

The consequences of such behaviour can be dire. The result of drinking while pregnant can include premature birth, the child being born brain damaged and with lifelong social, emotional and developmental problems. There is no cure. The damage inflicted on the child is life-long and one report notes that only seven of ninety adults diagnosed with FASD were able to live independently.

The consequences blight the child’s life tragically; the impact upon the child’s parents and siblings is life-long; the cost to the community, substantial — and it all is completely avoidable. So let’s all contribute the awareness of FASD and also, let’s individually encourage and support pregnant women we know not to drink while pregnant and breastfeeding,’ concluded Murray Edridge

ENDS

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