News
- Scotland has so much to gain from reducing how much we drink
- AFS welcomes revised alcohol consumption guidelines
- Emergency services face shocking levels of alcohol abuse
- Every child has the right to grow up safe from alcohol harm
- Public health must prevail over big business
- New toolkit to help children affected by family alcohol problems
- Price check reveals cheap cost of strong alcohol
- Sales increase underlines need for minimum pricing
- Time to kick alcohol out of sport
- Alcohol linked with stomach cancer
- AFS calls for compulsory health warnings on alcoholic drinks
- Are supermarkets 'responsible retailers' when it comes to alcohol?
- Scottish health charities call for excise duty rise to tackle cheap alcohol
- Alcohol campaigners unite to call for stronger protection from alcohol advertising to children
- New resource for people concerned about alcohol in their community
- Minimum pricing decision delayed until summer
- No completely 'safe' level of drinking
- New alcohol guidelines published
- Minimum pricing - European court ruling
- Alcohol fuels ambulance assaults
- 82% of Scots agree drink driving is unacceptable
- Scotland's alcohol strategy - what next?
- Scotland leads way in evidence-based alcohol policy
- New report reveals impact of alcohol on emergency services
- AFS appoints new chief executive
- Alcohol: a global concern
- Campaigners gather in Edinburgh for global alcohol conference
- Alcohol and pregnancy don't mix
- European Court minimum pricing opinion
- Call for minimum pricing as alcohol deaths rise
- How much are we really drinking?
- Dr Evelyn Gillan
- Majority of Brits harmed by other people's drinking
- Interactive map of alcohol and tobacco outlets
- Help consumers make an informed choice about alcohol
- Alcohol debate must continue
- Alcohol sponsorship in Formula 1: a dangerous cocktail
- Minimum pricing case to be heard in Europe
Alcohol and pregnancy don't mix
This Wednesday, 9 September, is International FASD awareness day.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) refers to a range of permanent and irreversible birth defects caused by a woman drinking during pregnancy. Affected children can have a wide range of physical, growth, behaviour and learning problems which impact on their everyday lives and limit their independence.
The condition is difficult to diagnose because there is no test, many of the symptoms can be similar to other conditions, and the mum’s drinking history may be unknown.
There is no known safe amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant. We do know that the risk of harm to the unborn baby increases the more alcohol is consumed and binge drinking is especially harmful. Avoiding alcohol during pregnancy and when planning pregnancy is the only way to be sure that the baby will not be affected by FASD.
Unfortunately, women are receiving conflicting messages about the risks of drinking during pregnancy. All healthcare providers need to deliver a clear, consistent message that no alcohol is the best and safest choice from conception to birth.