It is safest not to drink alcohol while pregnant.

DRINKWISE.ORG.AU/PREGNANCY

Media personality Dr Andrew Rochford and Australian sporting legend Liz Ellis are both recent parents and know how important it is to understand all the facts about alcohol and pregnancy.

Sport Australia Hall of Fame member Liz Ellis and Dr Andrew Rochford are DrinkWise Ambassadors and we thank them for helping us spread these important messages.

“ It’s safest for your partner not to drink while pregnant. Make sure you support her.”

Dr Andrew Rochford

“ As an expecting mum I sought expert advice to guide me through a safe and healthy pregnancy.” Liz Ellis

For further advice: If you are concerned about your own drinking or its effect on you and your family, consult your General Practitioner. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy and need to talk to someone immediately, call the Australian Government’s Pregnancy, Birth & Baby Helpline on 1800 882 436.

DrinkWise Australia has worked with the various sectors of the Alcohol Industry to bring you this important information. This project was funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Ageing.

The advice in this brochure does not replace advice from your health care provider.

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Advice from the expert

Professor Alec Welsh MBBS MSc PhD FRCOG(MFM) FRANZCOG CMFM DDU

“ There is confusion about how much one can safely drink during pregnancy.

We know very clearly that excessive amounts, either in isolated binge drinking or in prolonged drinking, are very harmful.

What we don’t know for sure is the lowest possible level that you can drink safely. We therefore say, for that reason, the safest possible thing that you can do is to not drink at all during pregnancy or while you’re breastfeeding.

We also encourage women and their partners to see a doctor when they are planning a pregnancy, so that this and a number of other important issues can be discussed.

”

Professor Alec Welsh provides more useful tips and information about alcohol and pregnancy on the DrinkWise website: drinkwise.org.au/pregnancy

Look out for this label

Professor in Maternal-Fetal MedicineSchool of Women’s & Children’s HealthUniversity of New South Wales

Head of Department Maternal-Fetal MedicineRoyal Hospital for Women

Increasingly, you will start to see this label on alcohol containers:

The reason for this is that the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recommends that if you are planning a pregnancy, pregnant or breastfeeding, ‘it is safest not to drink alcohol’.

Expert advice for this brochure has been provided through the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. We are grateful for this assistance, particularly to Professor Alec Welsh who has been generous with his time and advice.

It is recognised that labelling alone is not enough which is why education around these issues is important.

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