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Pregnancy
The Message Is Clear: More Research Is Needed Into The Risks Of Alcohol Intake During
Inconsistent guidelines for low alcohol intake or abstinence during pregnancy are confusing for pregnant
women and have little effect on women's alcohol intake during pregnancy, according to research
Ms Jennifer Powers, statistician at the University of Newcastle, NSW, and co-authors analysed data
collected by the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health from women aged 22-33 years who
were pregnant before October 2001, when guidelines recommended zero alcohol, or who were first
pregnant after October 2001, when guidelines recommended low alcohol intake.
They found that women's alcohol intake prior to pregnancy was the strongest determinant of alcohol
intake during pregnancy, whereas guidelines for low alcohol intake or abstinence had little effect.
"Relative to women who did not drink before pregnancy, women who drank any amount of alcohol before
pregnancy were about five times less likely to drink no alcohol during pregnancy," Ms Powers said.
"Women who drank moderate or high amounts of alcohol before pregnancy were 1.5 times less likely to
The study also found that about 80 per cent of women consumed alcohol during pregnancy under zero and
Ms Powers said the inconsistency of Australian alcohol guidelines was confusing for pregnant women
and health practitioners, and there was an overwhelming need for research to clearly establish the risks
pregnant women in a "no-person's-land" where guidelines are not backed up by clear consequences and
"It is important that the large group of women who drink alcohol at low to moderate levels receive clear
The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health is funded by the Department of Health and
Ageing and this analysis was funded by a NSW Department of Health grant to the University of