On the occasion of World Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day, September 9, Santé publique France is publishing an update on tobacco and alcohol consumption during pregnancy in 2021.
According to the study, 24% of the women surveyed were smoking when they found out they were pregnant. Of these smokers, 45% said they quit as soon as they found out they were pregnant. On the other hand, half reduced their consumption without quitting completely. 4% neither stopped nor reduced their tobacco consumption.
These figures translate into an alarming rate: 13% of mothers smoked throughout their pregnancy, whether or not they reduced their consumption.
However, we know that nicotine and other components of tobacco (hydrocarbons, heavy metals, etc.) pass through the placenta. Tobacco consumption during pregnancy is responsible for abnormalities in the development of the fetus. And as Tabac infos services specifies“For optimal fetal development, it is important to stop smoking completely during pregnancy and to stop as early as possible.”
Alcohol: a notable improvement, but risks persist
When it comes to alcohol, the results are more encouraging. 93% of mothers surveyed said they had never consumed alcohol after learning they were pregnant, a significant increase from 88% in 2017. However, 6% admitted to consuming it on special occasions, and less than 1% reported drinking more than once a month.
Among the 7% of mothers who consumed alcohol at least once during their pregnancy, more than half (57%) drank only a few sips, while the majority of the others reported drinking only one drink on average.
Information and prevention on the rise
The study finally reveals an improvement in the information provided by health professionals. In 2021, 71% of mothers said they had been informed by their doctor or midwife about the potential impact of alcohol consumption on their pregnancy and their child, compared to 65% in 2017.
Despite this progress, experts stress that these figures remain worrying, given the serious consequences that tobacco and alcohol can have on the health of the mother and the unborn child.
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