Pregnant women 'must not drink any alcohol' - new advice from Nice.

Pregnant women 'must not drink any alcohol'

Extract from the Telegraph:

"The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) previously said mothers-to-be could drink 1.5 units of alcohol a day, equivalent to a small glass of wine, after the first three months when the risk of miscarriage is highest.

But now, even though no new evidence has been published on the dangers of alcohol to babies, Nice is telling pregnant women to abstain altogether, especially during the first three months.

The new guidance warns women not to drink at all in the first trimester and ideally not at all until after the birth.

Excessive drinking during pregnancy causes foetal alcohol syndrome, which can leave children with impaired IQ and low birth weight, leading to severe learning difficulties and addiction problems in adulthood."

I heard a programme about the life-long suffering of a child born with FAS and it seems to me that abstinence from alcohol during the pregnancy must be well worth it not to put this suffering onto the child for life.

Pregnant mothers would also benefit by eating less salt during their pregnancy. This would reduce their risk of high blood pressure and of excessive weight gain and of developing diabetes during the pregnancy.

More babies - one in 100 - are born with foetal alcohol syndrome than all the major genetic disorders combined.

'The brutal fact is that Dominic looks like this because he was so drunk while in the womb' - Sunday Telegraph

Extracts:

"More babies - one in 100 - are born with foetal alcohol syndrome than all the major genetic disorders combined, yet the public know almost nothing about it. With alcohol consumption increasing among women, Olga Craig uncovers the appalling consequences for the damaged children. "

"About 28 babies with the most severe form are born each week. Yet the woeful lack of diagnostic expertise within the medical profession and the lack of publicity given to the syndrome means that thousands of women drink, and drink heavily, during pregnancy, oblivious to the risk to their unborn child.

Last Friday, backed by women such as Mrs Head, Lord Mitchell, the Labour peer, introduced the Alcohol Labelling Bill in the House of Lords, calling for it to be made compulsory for all alcohol containers to carry labels warning about the dangers of drinking while pregnant - as is already the case in France, America and Chile.

The backbench bill, which is backed by the National Organisation for Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS), gained an unopposed second reading. But it may face a rocky ride through the Commons, since many MPs believe it is yet another example of a nannying state. Without Government backing it is unlikely to become law.

As Britain's binge-drinking culture becomes ingrained in our psyche, all too few pregnant women are aware of the enormous risks to which they expose their unborn child if they continue to drink."

"Raj Mukhjejee, a leading expert in FASD, from St George's hospital medical school, in south London, says we now know that the problem is much greater than was previously thought, and it needs more publicity. "The uncertain levels of risk to the developing foetus, coupled with the possibility of misinterpreting a health-promotion message means the only safe message in pregnancy is abstinence," he says.

His view would seem to be at odds with Department of Health guidelines, which are also followed by the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. They suggest that it is safe to drink one to two units, once or twice a week."

It seems clear that pregnant mothers will give their baby a healthier start in life by avoiding alcohol during pregnancy. And it would be a heavy burden of guilt to bear if, by binge-drinking in pregnancy, a mother caused her child to be born seriously disabled. - Pregnant mothers will also give their baby a healthier start in life if they avoid salt and salty food during pregnancy. - This would safeguard their own health too, lowering their risk of high blood pressure and undue weight gain. - See http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/pregnant_mothers.html

Lose weight by eating less salt! Go on! - Try it! - You will feel so much better!
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Pregnant women should avoid alcohol. - New warning.

'No alcohol' warning for pregnant women

Extract:

"Women will be told not to drink while pregnant or even when trying for a baby in controversial government guidelines which will mean warning labels being put on bottles of wine, spirits and beer.

The plea for total abstinence follows growing fears over the rise among binge drinking among young women and concern that maternal drinking can cause possible brain damage in the womb. The new warnings are being fiercely resisted by the drinks industry on the grounds it contradicts the Department of Health's own official health advice to expectant mothers, which allows up to two units a day - the equivalent of a single glass of wine - once or twice a week."

Of particular concern is the prevention of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, which sometimes results from drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

Pregnant women should also be strongly urged to cut down on salt and salty food while they are pregnant. This would benefit both their own health and that of the baby-to-be. See http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/pregnant_mothers.html (Extract: If you eat as little salt/sodium as possible you will avoid unhealthy weight gain and also protect yourself from high blood pressure and will lower the risk of pre-eclampsia. You will suffer less tiredness during the pregnancy.") and also see http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/sodium_foods.html

Proposed alcoholic drink label 'warning to pregnant mothers'

Drink label 'warning to pregnant mothers'

Extract

"Wine, beer and spirits should carry words and pictures to warn expectant mothers of the risk they run of damaging their unborn child even if they drink only occasionally, the National Organisation on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome said.

Campaigners said that drinking during pregnancy could leave children mentally impaired, cause serious physical disabilities and even heart problems.

Despite the risks, nearly two thirds of women (61 per cent) drink at some stage during their pregnancy, according to the charity.

It believes that there should be a "zero tolerance" approach towards drinking while pregnant because of the magnitude of the risks.

Its warning comes amid widespread concern about the growing culture of binge-drinking among many young women.

The organisation, which held its annual conference in London yesterday, said that drink labelling with warnings aimed at women was already available in America, France and Finland."

Pregnant mothers should also be advised to reduce their salt intake to a minimum, both for the sake of their own health and that of the baby. See http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/pregnant_mothers.html