During September NHS South Yorkshire is supporting the #DryPregnancy campaign to highlight the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy and raise awareness of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), a range of conditions that can be caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
Dr David Crichton, Chief Medical Officer for NHS South Yorkshire said: “The aim of the campaign is to dispel the many mixed messages and advice given to mums-to-be regarding drinking alcohol and to encourage pregnant women, or women planning a pregnancy to go alcohol free.
“Whether you’re pregnant, thinking about becoming pregnant or know someone who is pregnant, it’s important to know that drinking alcohol during pregnancy can put the baby’s health at risk. Unborn babies cannot process alcohol well, which means it can stay in their blood for a long time which can damage their brain and body and stops them developing in the womb”.
“Everyone can make a difference in preventing Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) by supporting pregnant women to avoid alcohol. The key message is that there is no safe time and no safe amount of alcohol to drink during pregnancy. No alcohol is the safest option.”
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can be harmful because the alcohol consumed crosses from the mother's bloodstream through the placenta directly into the baby's blood. The baby's liver is one of the last organs to develop and it cannot process alcohol efficiently. As a result, too much exposure to alcohol can affect their development and cause both mental and physical problems such as varying degrees of learning disabilities and permanent damage to a baby's brain.
Foetal alcohol harm is the single biggest preventable cause of learning disabilities and behavioural difficulties among children, young people and adults in the UK.
Research has not established a safe level of alcohol intake whilst pregnant. NHS advice continues to be that the safest approach to keep risks to an unborn baby to a minimum - is to not drink alcohol at all during pregnancy. The more you drink, the greater the risk of causing long-term harm to your baby. No alcohol means no risk of FASD.
If you or anyone you know is having difficulty stopping drinking, talk to a midwife, doctor or pharmacist.
Confidential help and support is also available from a number of different organisations, including:
- Drinkaware – run a national alcohol helpline; if you're worried about your own or someone else's drinking, call this free helpline on 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm)
- We Are With You – a UK-wide treatment agency that helps individuals, families and communities manage the effects of alcohol and drug misuse
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) – a free self-help group; its "12-step" programme involves getting sober with the help of regular support groups
