Drink advice 'stigmatises' mums-to-be say medics

Published on Saturday 11 October 2008 11:21

HEALTH advice urging mothers-to-be to give up alcohol during their pregnancy should be scrapped, according to senior Lothian medics.

Telling pregnant women to go teetotal stigmatises any of them choosing to have a single glass of wine, for instance, and causes unnecessary anxiety, NHS Lothian told the Scottish Government.

The health board pointed to the fact that there was no good medical evidence to show that having one or two units a couple of times a week damaged a baby's health. Despite that, national guidelines say that "pregnant women or women trying to conceive should avoid drinking alcohol".

NHS Lothian has told the Government it is in favour of most of the proposals set out in its Changing Scotland's Relationship With Alcohol proposals.

The Scottish Government is looking at a raft of proposals, including minimum pricing for drinks based on their alcoholic strength and banning under-21s from buying alcohol from off-licences. But the board has said official guidelines should distinguish between pregnant women who drink safe amounts and those who meet the criteria for binge drinking – consuming five or more units at one time.

In its formal response, the health board said: "

A zero tolerance approach runs the risk of stigmatising women who continue to drink or who have drunk before finding they are pregnant.

"It may also stop a percentage of women from reporting drinking alcohol if they feel they are going to be judged. It also runs the risk of causing unnecessary anxiety among those who have been drinking at low-risk low levels."

It is widely accepted that heavy drinking during pregnancy can cause a number of problems for the unborn baby, such as brain damage, and heighten the chances of miscarriage or stillbirth.

However, a leading pregnancy support charity disagrees with the NHS Lothian stance. Jane Brewin, chief executive of Tommy's Baby Charity, said: "While we would agree that there isn't convincing evidence to say that drinking a small glass of wine occasionally in pregnancy is harmful, we know that large amounts of alcohol is harmful to the developing baby so we strongly advise women not to drink in pregnancy."

Public Health Minister Shona Robison said: "The Scottish Government's proposals for tackling alcohol misuse are unashamedly radical and I therefore welcome the enthusiastic response to our consultation."

YOUR SAY: Should mums-to-be be urged to give up drink altogether during pregnancy?

Liz Barron, 49, sales assistant, Bingham: "I think it depends on the person. I am not a drinker so I never drank through my pregnancy and it didn't bother me, but I know people who did drink when they were pregnant and it didn't do them any harm."

Jean Jobson, 75, retired, Kirknewton: "I'm 75 and people were told that when I was a young, pregnant mother. I don't know whether or not it makes a difference but certainly over indulgence wouldn't help anybody.

Malcolm Wallace, 70, retired BBC admin assistant, St Leonard Street: "It is a special time in their life, giving birth to a child, and I think it is a period in their life when they should abstain."