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who have a low average alcohol consumption during pregnancy but drink six or more
glasses on some occasions (binge drinking).
The preceding paragraphs concern the type of effects that may occur at the specified
levels of alcohol use. There are clear indications that the risks are raised substantially at
low levels of alcohol consumption. The effects are difficult to quantify since the results
of the available studies differ somewhat on this point. It is clear, however, that the
severity of the effects increase with the individual’s average alcohol consumption and
the number of glasses consumed on each occasion.
The Committee concludes that every reduction in alcohol consumption leads to a
reduction in risks. It is not possible to determine a lower limit for alcohol consumption
from which it can be stated with certainty that there would be no effect on the foetus
and the pregnancy.
Effects of alcohol use during breastfeeding
Alcohol use during breastfeeding also has adverse effects on the child. Babies have
been found to drink less milk and to have a disturbed sleep-wake pattern for three
hours after nursing mothers have consumed between one and two standard drinks. The
effects of lower consumption levels have not been studied.
The conclusion is that it is not possible to indicate a safe lower limit for alcohol
consumption during breastfeeding.
Health education
Scientific studies show that various problems may occur in health education about
alcohol use during pregnancy. In some women, strict recommendations to refrain
altogether from alcohol consumption will result in stress, feelings of guilt or a feeling
that they would fail anyway. This could result in these women not reducing, or even
increasing, their alcohol consumption. A more balanced message will probably achieve
a better result with them. Health education on the risks of alcohol use during pregnancy
usually has no effect with heavy drinkers. They need special guidance and care to
reduce their consumption, and even then they rarely succeed in completely stopping
their alcohol intake.
In one-to-one health education, enquiries about the level of alcohol consumption can be
made and health education can be linked to the woman’s possibilities. This is probably
the most effective method of health education. Women receive information in many
other ways, such as through the Internet, mass media and brochures. The health
education notice on bottled drinks in the United States proved to be ineffective. To
have an impact, a health education notice has to be simple, not create unnecessary
anxiety, make clear what kind of behaviour is harmful to the child and what is not, and
indicate how the behaviour can be changed.
Recommendations
The Committee recommends that health education provides that advice with which the
harmful effects of alcohol consumption are excluded with certainty. Women can
achieve this if they refrain from consuming any alcoholic beverages from the moment
they attempt to become pregnant until the moment they stop breastfeeding the baby.
Men can achieve this if they refrain from consuming alcoholic beverages from the
moment the woman attempts to become pregnant until the moment pregnancy has been
confirmed.
It might be helpful to provide the following additional information along with the
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