Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694818506559.pdf (Australia)
Information on Alcohol and Pregnancy Australian Survey Results NOFASD Australia developed a short survey, hosted on SurveyMonkey, which was randomly advertised on Facebook to women across the country aged 18-40 years.

This age group was selected to capture women of childbearing age, so that results capture recent advice received in Australia.

275 women participated in the survey, 30% of whom were pregnant at the time of participation, and 82% of whom had been pregnant at some point.
Participants were distributed across age brackets, with 86% aged between 26 and 40.

Participants were located across Australia’s eight states and territories, with participant numbers representative of state populations.

67% of participants lived in major cities, with 33% in regional Australia.

Health Professional Information 47% of participants reported that a GP had never spoken to them about alcohol use and pregnancy, and only 14% reported receiving information before becoming pregnant.
Similarly, 44% reported that no other health professional had spoken to them about alcohol and pregnancy, and only 10% had received information prior to conception.

Research shows significant risks of FASD and other alcohol-related harms during the period between conception and pregnancy recognition.

The results of this study highlight the need for more awareness of these risks before women conceive.
45% of respondents reported a GP discussing alcohol use once their pregnancy was confirmed, and 48% reported receiving information from another health professional.

This highlights the ongoing need for health professionals to be informed and trained in how to confidently have these conversations with all their patients.
The results of this survey support the findings of Payne and colleagues (2005, p. 562) who found that “Less than half the health professionals caring for pregnant women (45%) said they routinely asked pregnant clients about alcohol use in pregnancy.

About one third asked sometimes, one third asked if there were certain risk factors and 12% did not ask about alcohol use.

Only 25% routinely provided information on the consequences of alcohol use in pregnancy and 21% did not provide such information”.
Effective approaches to prevention, diagnosis and support for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum DisorderSubmission 40 - Attachment 1 Conversations about the risks of alcohol use during pregnancy s t n e d n o p s e r f o e g a t n e c r e P 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Never Prior to pregnancy When pregnant GP Health professional Participants who had conversations were asked what they were advised.
While the majority of respondents stated they were told that no alcohol was safest, conflicting information is still being received, with comments included the following: • Both a nurse and a pharmacist have told me that new studies show it's safe to have red wine during pregnancy as long as it's not a bottle a night.

• Alcohol was ok to drink 1-2 times a week only 1 glass.
• Not to be concerned about the alcohol I consumed prior to knowing I was pregnant as the placenta hadn’t developed and therefore the baby wouldn’t be harmed.

Also told the one or 2 drink occasionally would probably be ok, but overall safer not to drink.

• To avoid drinking alcohol while trying to conceive to ensure I didn’t accidentally drink while unknowingly pregnant.

• That many women (unfortunately) abuse alcohol during pregnancy with no ill effects.
That I did not risk FAS by having some wine so early in pregnancy.

Effective approaches to prevention, diagnosis and support for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum DisorderSubmission 40 - Attachment 1 Information from others Almost half the survey respondents reported being told it’s safe to drink during pregnancy.
They reported receiving this advice from: • Friends • Family • Media • Other mothers • Peers who have drunk through pregnancy • Colleagues • Researchers • People online, including “mums forums” • Waitress at a restaurant • Friends and relatives who are doctors and obstetricians Comments included: • Other mums/ people saying that a small amount i.e.

1/2 - 1 glass of wine on occasion is fine; and that if their routine was a glass of wine every night then not to change their routine while pregnant.
• Relatives and colleagues.

Some apparently told by their OBs it was ok to have a glass of wine daily.

• Friends; along the lines of ‘they don’t know how much is safe or unsafe’.

Effective approaches to prevention, diagnosis and support for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum DisorderSubmission 40 - Attachment 1 Societal pressure to drink alcohol More than half the women surveyed reported being encouraged to drink alcohol when they didn’t want to.
This highlights the problem of peer pressure around alcohol consumption in general, and is of particular importance when we consider that many women choose not to disclose a pregnancy during the first trimester.

According to these results, up to half of pregnant women could face societal pressure to drink before they announce their pregnancy.

Of the women who had been pregnant, one third had been encouraged to drink alcohol during their pregnancy.
Societal pressure to drink alcohol s t n e d n o p s e r f o e g a t n e c r e P 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 When you didn't want to When you were pregnant Comments included: • The tough time is before you’ve announced that you’re pregnant because it’s too early.

People offer drinks and then get pushy when you decline.

Australia has a very alcoholic culture.

• My sister recently announced she is pregnant.

Because she has not told her colleagues, she had small sips of wine in front of them, to avoid suspicion.
She was very worried so I pointed her to a podcast that suggested that in some studies, some mothers who drank alcohol had babies with better outcomes.

It was mainly my partner’s family that pushed me to drink when I said I didn’t want to.

My family didn’t push the point as much.


• Effective approaches to prevention, diagnosis and support for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum DisorderSubmission 40 - Attachment 1 Further comments The survey concluded with the question “Do you have any comments, or would you like to share any experiences, about the information you have received about alcohol use in pregnancy?” Comments included: • • It’s confusing and inconsistent.
The OBGYN actually told me that after about 20 weeks a small amount of alcohol is ok but the reason they tell people complete abstinence is best is because most people can’t be sensible so it’s easier to have none at all.

I think most people assume that a few drinks of alcohol here and there are fine during pregnancy, and even regular consumption of small amounts of alcohol (1-2 drinks) is harmless too.

• GPS don’t seem to have the most recent info.


Often what they have said is different to what I'm told by midwives, OBs - that if you are thinking of getting pregnant don’t drink.

Consistent information is important.

I have a friend who was told by her Dr to have a glass of red wine at the end of the day to help her relax as she was feeling anxious in the last few months of her pregnancy.

• • Women are told to also drink when Breastfeeding child to help supply, i.e.

a beer helps.
a beer helps.

Doctors need more education on breastfeeding and pregnancy with regards to drinking alcohol.

• Our culture needs to make some changes.

I have seen a pregnant educated woman drinking wine and others laughing it off.

So sad.

• This information seems to be always directed to women but their partners also need to be aware and involved in prevention of fasd, as both are just as responsible for the life of that child.
• When I was nursing in the Kimberley I was amazed by the education and public health programs about alcohol use during pregnancy and FASD, it worries me that this is not a federal approach.

Effective approaches to prevention, diagnosis and support for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum DisorderSubmission 40 - Attachment 1