Pregnant women are still drinking too much

An investigation by Sky News has revealed that many pregnant women are drinking more alcohol each week than the government recommended maximum of four units. One hospital has reported that some women are drinking as many as 34 units of alcohol in a week.

Four units is the equivalent of two glasses of wine. Although a majority of women chose to completely stop drinking during pregnancy many carry on and some binge drink.

Hospital figures show that over 2,000 babies are born every year to mothers who have consumed more than the recommended maximum amount of alcohol.

South Tees Hospital NHS Foundation Trust recorded some of the worse cases of alcohol abuse during pregnancy. Four women were found to be drinking more than 34 units per week. This is the equivalent of half a bottle of wine every day.

Alcohol can cause serious health problems for babies including foetal alcohol syndrome, which is a permanent condition that causes mental and physical disability.

Children with foetal alcohol syndrome develop very clear facial features that are easily recognised. This alone should be a deterrent for mothers because it is impossible to hide the fact that they have been drinking during pregnancy after their child is born.

Many women still do not understand the health risks of drinking during pregnancy. Ninety per cent of women drink in the UK and not all of them stop when they become pregnant. If women were screened for alcohol abuse on their first midwife visit it might be possible to reduce the problem of foetal alcohol syndrome.