“Zero alcohol during pregnancy”. This message will be hammered out by the health authorities until the end of November to encourage pregnant women to take the right reflexes. This information campaign on the dangers of drinking during pregnancy is launched by the Public Health France agency and the Interministerial Mission for the Fight against Drugs and Addictive Behaviors (Mildeca). It is part of World Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Awareness Day on September 9.
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), little known to the general public
This FAS speaks little to public opinion, however, this pathology, which corresponds to alcohol intoxication of the embryo or the fetus, appears to be the most serious complication of prenatal exposure to alcohol. This fetal alcohol syndrome is characterized by growth retardation, facial abnormalities and brain damage.
This campaign aims precisely to challenge the French on this danger as well as on the other complications related to alcohol during pregnancy (growth retardation, central nervous system damage, malformations, etc.). Indeed, when a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, it passes from the maternal blood to the blood of the fetus, through the placenta, recalls the alcohol info service website. The alcohol concentration in the baby’s blood quickly becomes as high as in the mother’s blood. This toxic presence harms the development of the child.
Launch of a communication campaign to remind people of the “zero reflex” #alcohol during the #pregnancy” @MILDECAgouvhttps://t.co/6T7zZPPvt1
– SantépubliqueFrance (@santeprevention) September 5, 2016
Alcohol and pregnancy, a risk that is too underestimated
Today, the risk associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy remains unclear, even underestimated, observe Public health France. “The risk of” zero alcohol during pregnancy “is not always understood as total abstinence or perceived as an absolute necessity,” she laments.
Only 25% of French people say that there is no alcohol consumption during pregnancy that is safe for the child, according to the agency. “It is therefore essential to remember that alcohol is toxic to the fetus and can cause various complications, of which fetal alcohol syndrome is the most serious form”.
Prevention messages will be relayed through several information channels: press announcements inserted in magazines targeting “family”, articles in specialized maternity blogs, as well as the insertion of an explanatory leaflet “Zero alcohol during pregnancy. “in maternity boxes, given to pregnant women in the 1st and 2nd trimesters of pregnancy.
Women affected by alcohol problems can contact alcohol info service on 0 980 980 930 or go to alcohol-info-service.fr.
[#Alcool et #grossesse] Can we drink alcohol #pregnant ? What are the risks ? What if we have been drinking? #healthhttps://t.co/nDOrPNEZiU
– Alcohol info service (@Alcoolinfo) September 5, 2016
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