Ministry of Health and Social Affairs (Sweden) - Should women abstain from drinking alcohol during pregnancy?

Highlights the damage to the fetus exposed to alcohol

 Socialstyresen is a branch of the Ministry of Health

Source (Scroll down to "Pregnancy and abuse") 

Damage to the foetus and child
...This knowledge includes the fact the damage to the foetus is dose-related, i.e. the higher the dose (this applies mainly to alcohol), the greater the damage. Damage to the foetus usually results in FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) or FAE (Fetal Alcohol Effects), but it has also been found that the children can have neuropsychological disturbances, e.g. ADHD. Damage causes by drug abuse in pregnancy is also known. This applies, for instance, to damage to motor and intellectual capabilities. However there are many signs that the psychosocial environment in which the child grows up is of great importance, both in a positive and a negative direction, in alleviating the effects of this damage.

As regards alcohol intake, there is a lack of evidence for a safe limit for risk-free consumption during pregnancy, so the message is to abstain totally during pregnancy.

Posted on 6/1/2008 5:08:29 PM by Lil' TuffyApproved 6/5/2008 4:42 PM