A new research paper suggests that drinking alcohol in pregnancy causes a common form of learning disability.
The paper – written by one of the UK’s leading authorities Professor Barry Carpenter OBE – has found that children affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) were the largest group with learning difficulties not caused by a genetic condition.
FASD affects around 1% of births in Europe, and sufferers display a range of physical and mental symptoms such as skeletal and organ deformities and central nervous system handicaps.
The paper highlights the need for clearer information about the issue to be made available to mothers-to-be.
Debbie Bannigan, chief executive of national charity
Swanswell which provides help and support for people in tackling drug and alcohol misuse, has indicated that the government and public bodies have a responsibility to keep the advice regarding drinking during pregnancy ‘clear and simple – if you want to avoid risking the health of your child, don't drink when pregnant,’ she said.
She also said that the paper provided ‘clear evidence that during this time alcohol should simply be avoided. To advise anything else only causes confusion.’
She added: ‘There is already a bewildering amount of health advice out there for expectant mothers - they have enough to deal with without worrying about how much alcohol they can “safely” consume.’
