Pregnant and enjoy an occasional drink? In Australia, you are apparently in good company. Researchers at Perth's Telethon Institute interviewed 5,000 12 weeks after delivery. Of those interviewed, nearly half reported drinking during pregnancy, but many did so because the pregancies were unplanned.
The researchers focused on alcohol consumption during the 3 months prior to pregancy and during each trimester. The study found a correlation between the percentage of pregnancies that were unplanned (47%) and the percentage of pregnant women who reported drinking during the 1st trimester (58%). The number of women consuming more than 2 drinks per day declined in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Overall, 15% of women drank outside the current Australian guideline for alcohol consumption in pregnancy. Unlike the American Medical Assocation, which recommends eliminating all alcohol consumption during pregnancy, the Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council recommends 'limited' usage.
When it comes to pregnancy and drinking, the mainstream American approach seems to favor shaming and excoriation (remember Rachel Weisz?). But even in laid back Aussie land, the issue is still hot button. Any way you look at it, drinking and pregnancy will always be a divisive issue, and government rules on the topic appear to hold little sway.
