Contraception plan needed to ease problem of foetal alcohol exposure

A new study has found a majority of women who drink alcohol when pregnant are unaware they are expecting, leading to calls for better contraception to keep babies safe.

Women need access to preconception intervention to prevent foetal alcohol exposure as research shows the majority of women who drink when pregnant are unaware they are expecting, a Queensland foetal alcohol spectrum disorder expert warns

“There needs to be better long-term and effective birth control for women not planning a pregnancy. We see many women who drank alcohol as they were on the pill and didn’t think they were pregnant. Also, for those planning a pregnancy the safest option is to stop drinking alcohol,” Dr Natasha Reid, from the University of Queensland’s Neurodevelopment Clinic, which treats children with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) said.

Dr Natasha Reid from the University of Queensland.

A new study released in the Drug & Alcohol Review shows that of 1179 women, 79 per cent drank alcohol before knowing they were pregnant but the majority of those, 82 per cent, stopped as soon as they found out.

Half of those who said they continued to drink after realising they were pregnant only drank on special occasions.

Almost 64 per cent were aware of the national guidelines, 78 per cent knew the recommendation that consuming no alcohol in pregnancy is safest, 4.6 per cent thought some alcohol was safe and 17.3 per cent were unsure.

The study was carried out by researchers from The University of Sydney, Menzies School of Health Research and The University of Adelaide.

Australian guidelines say no safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy has been identified.

“The research into low level drinking while pregnant is somewhat mixed and this can create the idea for some women that they will be okay if they have a drink here and there but in my line of research and work I see it’s best not to take any chances,” Dr Reid said.

The baby’s blood gets about the same level of alcohol as the mother’s blood.

Drinking alcohol while pregnant increases the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, small baby for gestational age, delayed child motor function, developmental and language delay.

“There is a two year waiting list for the clinic as more health practitioners are aware of the problems with foetal alcohol exposure. The data shows a slight decrease in the number of pregnant women drinking so that is a positive but preconception interventions are the best way to approach the fight against FASD,” Dr Reid said.