Alcohol consumption in pregnancy

Alcohol use in pregnancy is teratogenic; however, it is one of the few modifiable risk factors for poor pregnancy, perinatal, childhood and later outcomes. Up to 60% of women in Australia report drinking alcohol during pregnancy, and 80% drink alcohol in the three-month period before conception. It is likely that rates of fetal exposure to alcohol are increasing because rising rates of risky and binge drinking behaviours have been documented in young Australian women over recent years and almost half of all pregnancies in Australia are unplanned.