Doctors advise women not to drink any alcohol during pregnancy

Reducing alcohol use during pregnancy: listening to women who drink as an intervention starting point.

OBJECTIVES This study assesses factors that contribute to alcohol consumption during pregnancy and identifies potential intervention strategies to reduce consumption. METHODS The study sample includes 142 pregnant women who attended a public hospital for prenatal health care in Perth, Western Australia. All participants returned a self-completion survey. RESULTS Women who discontinued drink...

Folic Acid Supplementation: to Advise or not to Advise?

Taking antidepressants during late pregnancy. How should we advise women?

QUESTION In light of recent negative media attention to antidepressant use during late pregnancy, several of my patients have either discontinued or are considering discontinuing their antidepressant medications. How can I best counsel these patients on taking antidepressants during late pregnancy? ANSWER Antidepressant use during the third trimester has been associated occasionally with a tr...

Attitudes and behaviour predict women's intention to drink alcohol during pregnancy: the challenge for health professionals

BACKGROUND To explore women's alcohol consumption in pregnancy, and potential predictors of alcohol consumption in pregnancy including: demographic characteristics; and women's knowledge and attitudes regarding alcohol consumption in pregnancy and its effects on the fetus. METHODS We conducted a national cross-sectional survey via computer assisted telephone interview of 1103 Australian women...

Is it all right to drink a little during pregnancy?

QUESTION When I told a female patient who just transferred from another city to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy, she was surprised. She mentioned that, in the past, several doctors had told her it was all right to drink moderately. I am confused. Have I missed something? ANSWER No, you have not. Women should be advised to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy. There are insufficient dat...