Alcohol ‘should carry warning for pregnant women'
More than 600 babies are born in Ireland every year suffering from Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) caused by the mothers drinking alcohol during pregnancy - but this figure is conservative because many more cases are not being picked up.
Dr Barry, who headed the study of more than 43,000 women attending Coombe Hospital in Dublin, said medical reports suggested that even moderate to low alcohol consumption could damage an unborn child.
The Department of Health sought her advice on updating their leaflet on alcohol and pregnancy a number of weeks ago and now says there is no known safe level of alcohol consumption in pregnancy.
“In the absence of scientifically-proven evidence that would suggest a benefit, the advice has got to be abstinence,” said Dr Barry.
“Bottles and cans of alcohol should now carry a warning so there is no confusion about this.
“We do not allow young people to drink alcohol because we recognise that their organs are still developing but there appears to be no clear understanding that the placenta does not prevent alcohol from being absorbed by an unborn baby,” she said.
The seven-year study, funded by the department’s Health Promotion Unit, found that almost one-in-10 pregnant women were putting the health of their unborn child at risk by consuming more than six alcoholic drinks a week.
Just one-out-of-five intended reducing or stopping drinking during their pregnancy. In 2002, 20% of pregnant women in Ireland were non-drinkers, compared to 80% in the US.
Foetal Alcohol Support Ireland co-ordinator Michelle Savage said alcohol did far more damage to an unborn baby than any of the recreational drugs, including smoking.
“It is reckoned the 1% of children in the United States are suffering FASD. That implies that the rate in Ireland is 4% but it is not being picked up,” she said.
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