Australian Medical Association President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said recently that the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) should revise its guidelines on alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
The AMA made a similar call on the NHMRC just before Christmas last year.
Dr Haikerwal appealed again to the NHMRC this morning as the Salvation Army launched its Alcohol Awareness Campaign, which highlights the risks for unborn children caused when mothers drink alcohol during pregnancy.
Dr Haikerwal said there is compelling international evidence that mothers who drink even small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy could unwittingly harm their unborn children.
“The current NHMRC guidelines do not recommend women in Australia give up alcohol during pregnancy, while the US since 1989 has recommended no alcohol at all during pregnancy,” Dr Haikerwal said.
“The US also has health warning labels on alcohol packaging about drinking during pregnancy, and France will probably introduce similar warnings,” Dr Haikerwal said.
Thirty years ago, scientists linked prenatal alcohol exposure with a pattern of birth defects, which became known as foetal alcohol syndrome. It includes central nervous system problems, low birth weight, mental retardation and abnormal facial features. Children with foetal alcohol syndrome may have physical disabilities and problems with learning, memory, attention, problem solving, and social and behavioural problems.