Alcohol consumption during pregnancy raises attention in Switzerland

While the world observes Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) awareness day, Addiction Switzerland called on Wednesday for more awareness to be raised towards the issue of mothers drinking during pregnancy which affects one in every hundred babies in Europe.

Figures show that in Switzerland nearly 19 percent of women aged 15-45 drink excessively at least once a month, meaning that they consume four or more standard drinks in one sitting.

Addiction Switzerland reported that between 5 and 6 percent of Swiss women within this age bracket who partake in such behavior are either pregnant or breastfeeding.

This can engender a range of severe health repercussions including attention deficiency, learning difficulties, language disorders, hyperactivity and impulsiveness for the child.

While Switzerland lacks accurate figures for the number of new-borns affected by FASD, it is estimated that between 5 and 20 babies out of every 10,000 births in Europe suffer from FASD's most severe form, Foetal Alcohol Syndrome.

The latter is usually noticeable through specific facial characteristics, growth deficiencies as well as by damage to the central nervous system.

Addiction Switzerland recommends to avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while pregnant as alcohol passes directly from the mother's blood supply to the child's via the placenta.

The Swiss NGO also cautions against drinking while breastfeeding as alcohol can also be transmitted to babies via the mother's milk.