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Irish Women Advised To Avoid Alcohol Completely During Pregnancy

The HSE has launched a campaign encouraging women to avoid alcohol entirely during pregnancy. Professor Frank Murray, Chair of Alcohol Health Alliance Ireland, told The Last Word that there is "no safe limit" for the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy, and that expectant mothers or those who are thinking of getting pregnant should avoid it completely. The warning comes as a study of 187 countries estimated that Ireland has the third-highest rate of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, which can severely impact a baby's development. Irish women have also previously been ranked among the heaviest binge drinkers in the world. Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders can cause various problems such as developmental and physical delay, intellectual disability and inattentiveness in later life. We were also joined on the programme by Noelle Younkin, who is a member of ENDpae, a support group for people affected by Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and their families. Noelle adopted two sons, both of whom have Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. She says that pregnant women can often give in to pressure from family and friends to have a drink, and that they need support and encouragement to avoid doing so. Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page. see more