Inconsistent guidelines for low alcohol intake or abstinence during pregnancy are confusing for pregnant women and have little effect on women’s alcohol intake during pregnancy.

They found that women’s alcohol intake prior to pregnancy was the strongest determinant of alcohol intake during pregnancy, whereas guidelines for low alcohol intake or abstinence had little effect.
“Relative to women who did not drink before pregnancy, women who drank any amount of alcohol before pregnancy were about five times less likely to drink no alcohol during pregnancy,” Ms Powers said.
“Women who drank moderate or high amounts of alcohol before pregnancy were 1.5 times less likely to drink low amounts of alcohol during pregnancy.”
The study also found that about 80 per cent of women consumed alcohol during pregnancy under zero and low alcohol guidelines.
Ms Powers said the inconsistency of Australian alcohol guidelines was confusing for pregnant women and health practitioners, and there was an overwhelming need for research to clearly establish the risks associated with different levels of alcohol intake during pregnancy.
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“It is important that the large group of women who drink alcohol at low to moderate levels receive clear and consistent messages from health professionals.
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The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health is funded by the Department of Health and Ageing and this analysis was funded by a NSW Department of Health grant to the University of Newcastle and the University of NSW.
The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.
Source-MJA