Is it ever safe to drink when you’re pregnant?
May 28, 2007Pregnant women often say “I’m eating for two”. Eating enough of the right food is obviously a good thing to do when you’re pregnant, but what if a pregnant woman says “I’m drinking for two”?
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a group of disorders that may occur if a woman chooses to drink in pregnancy. Babies can suffer life-long physical and intellectual disabilities because of it. The condition is not curable and the damage is permanent, but it is preventable.
New program poses the question
The Rural Health Education Foundation has produced a 26 minute documentary entitled Drinking for Two? that poses the question “Is it safe to drink at all while you’re pregnant?”
To answer this, we hear from a number of people with this problem, along with their families.
We also hear from experts Professor Elizabeth Elliot (The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, NSW), Ms Lorian Hayes (National Indigenous Australian Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Education Network) and Dr Lara Wieland (Mulungu Aboriginal Corporation Medical Centre, QLD).
The all new program, which airs on the Foundation’s satellite network at 8pm (EST) on Wednesday 6 June, with a repeat at 12.30pm on Friday 8 June, is presented by Julie McCrossin (pictured), former Presenter of ABC Radio National’s Life Matters.
Prevention strategies
Prevention strategies of FASD must focus around education and early intervention, and not only involve health professionals but link clearly with education, housing, justice and other community services.
“A safe level of alcohol ingestion has not been established in pregnancy,” says program panellist Professor Elizabeth Elliot of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, NSW. “We don’t know what amount of alcohol and at what time period during the pregnancy is likely to cause alcohol-related neuro-development disorders.”
The documentary, produced with funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, includes cases studies to illustrate the lifelong issues for children, adults and Indigenous communities in particular.
However, as Ms Lorian Hayes of the National Indigenous Australian Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Education Network notes: “It is not just an Aboriginal problem; it can be found wherever alcohol is part of our culture”.
Other viewing options
This program is available for purchase on DVD and VHS video and, after the initial satellite broadcast, can be experienced online via video webstreaming and audio podcast.
More information
For full details of the program, visit the Drinking for Two? program page.