Pregnant Drinking Causes Learning Disabilities

Research published this week has found drinking alcohol during pregnancy causes a common form of learning disability.

The paper by one of the UK’s leading authorities, Professor Barry Carpenter OBE, found children affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) were the largest group with learning difficulties not caused by a genetic condition.

According to the Royal college of Midwives, FASD affects around 1% of births in Europe, while sufferers display a range of "physical and mental symptoms such as skeletal and organ deformities and central nervous system handicaps".

Swanswell, a national charity that helps people overcome drug, alcohol and other problem behaviour, said the findings added weight to the need for clearer guidance for pregnant women about the risks to their health and that of their unborn child.

Debbie Bannigan, Chief Executive of Swanswell, said: ‘This research paper is written by one of the UK’s leading authorities on the effects of drinking while pregnant, and is clear evidence that during this time alcohol should simply be avoided. To advise anything else only causes confusion.

"There is already a bewildering amount of health advice out there for expectant mothers - they have enough to deal with without worrying about how much alcohol they can ‘safely’ consume.

Ms Banningan said that within the space of two days during this summer, the public were told that the Government was likely to increase its safe alcohol limits, and that new research had found that alcohol damages the DNA of unborn children beyond repair.

"The Government and public bodies have a duty to keep it clear and simple – if you want to avoid risking the health of your child, don't drink when pregnant."

(DW/GK)