Alcohol consumption during pregnancy and breast feeding in Canada is prevalent and not strongly associated with mental health status

Commentary on: LangSQuereMShieldK. Alcohol use and self-perceived mental health status among pregnant and breastfeeding women in Canada: a secondary data analysis. BJOG2016;123:900–9.

Implications for practice and research

Healthcare practitioners need to be aware that women who stop drinking alcohol during pregnancy may resume drinking while breast feeding.

Breastfeeding women should be informed about the potential effect of ethanol on the baby.

Longitudinal studies are needed to describe the trajectory and patterns of alcohol use in women of reproductive age from preconception through pregnancy and beyond.

Teasing apart the correlates and determinants of different patterns of alcohol use preconception, during pregnancy and beyond would help to identify potential targets for intervention development and delivery, to improve maternal and infant health.

Context

Women are advised to avoid consuming alcohol while pregnant or breast feeding in guidance for alcohol consumption issued by various countries.1 Harm from excess drinking during pregnancy is well documented.

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