What is being done to measure Foetal Alcohol Syndrome?

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Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:22a.m.

What do we understand about Foetal Alcohol Syndrome?

What do we understand about Foetal Alcohol Syndrome?

Is it okay to have a glass of wine when you're pregnant?

What do we understand about Foetal Alcohol Syndrome and what are we doing to measure it in this country?

Alcohol Action New Zealand says children are suffering from the syndrome and we're doing little to raise awareness of the issue.

National Addiction Centre Director and Alcohol Action medical spokesman, Professor Doug Sellman, spoke to Firstline this morning.

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Comments

17 Feb 2012 10:10a.m.

mike trash wrote:

Shouldn't we be asking what is so bad in a mothers life that she is drinking heavily while pregnant? There is no way one glass of wine could cause feotal alchohol syndrome. If this assumption is based on questioning mothers with affected children, do you think that perhaps the guilt and shame or even denial that is associated with alcoholism could have prevented them from giving an accurate account of their drinking history?

16 Feb 2012 03:26p.m.

Joanne wrote:

Its tough being pregnant - you're responsible for another person's life.

15 Feb 2012 08:37p.m.

wondering wrote:

i am wondering to why they do not heavily promote the affect many things including alcohol and marijuana have on the male sperm and cause miscarriage , abnormalities , disabilities and still birth. A far greater effect than what the mother does while pregnant

15 Feb 2012 12:44p.m.

jan wrote:

I really doubt one drink of wine in the whole nine months of pregnancy causes foetal alcohol syndrome, and I am sick of the continuing niggling at women when pregnant. Don't drink, smoke, eat custard squares, shellfish etc. Sure I know salmonella causes miscarriages and its a hit and miss each time you buy food. No I wouldn't risk it either. But no drinking at all, I mean some people get in the mood for sex by drinking, did that one do harm?. If women have all the ova inside does this mean drinking at any stage of child bearing age have damaged the potential baby?. Good grief. What about the guys sperm, drugs stay in the system for months, alcohol from his weekend bender has that produced sperm which is damaged? Quit putting all the babys problems on the women.If one drink can cause damage then there has many generations with most of the poputaltion with this condition. Funny no studies which say cleaning, or having sex with your partner causes problems it just the fun things which they want women to stop. In saying all this, yes it is good to give your baby the best chance in life. Remember smoking used to be promoted as a good thing, thats changed. This is my opinion, have a go at the message and not me. And for the record my parents didnt drink or take drugs, nor do I. If your thinking ive got a problem with my views. The ones who do have it will cost our health system but so does a head inury when the person doesn't wear a helmet which is also preventable, so don;t winge about the cost of foetal alcohol syndrome because the outcome is similar.