Baby booze warning

MOTHERS of brain-damaged babies have warned women not to drink during pregnancy, as a Senate inquiry slams Australia’s “drinking culture’’.

Gold Coast mum Sam Pinnell, who helps more than 900 mothers of children with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder through her Queensland FASD Support Group, said many were guilt-stricken.

“No one will ever make me feel as guilty as I already do,’’ she said. “Instead of blaming, shaming and judging mothers, we need to be supporting them.

“Mums don’t go out deliberately to hurt their babies.’’

Ms Pinnell, whose adult son has been diagnosed with FASD, said she had been drinking at parties before she found out about an unplanned pregnancy in the 1980s.

“I was six to eight weeks’ pregnant before I found out, and the day I found out I was pregnant I never drank again,’’ she said.

Ms Pinnell said she spent years consulting doctors about the learning and behavioural problems of her son, who was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder before being told he had FASD.

“I felt so guilty,’’ she said. “FASD is a permanent brain injury and it leads to lifelong disability. I wouldn’t have done anything to hurt my son – I just didn’t know I was pregnant and I didn’t know about FASD.’’

Ms Pinnell said some doctors were still telling pregnant women it was safe to have an occasional drink, or to drink in the last trimester of pregnancy.

“Some doctors still say it’s OK to have a drink – but there’s no safe amount at any time,’’ she said.

“If you’re planning a pregnancy, stop drinking. Do you really want to play Russian roulette with your baby’s brain?’’

Ms Pinnell spoke out after it was revealed that drinking during pregnancy is leaving children with brain damage requiring assistance through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The NDIS is supporting 1360 Australians diagnosed with FASD, at a cost to taxpayers of $115m a year – or $85,000 each – for disability care.

Greens Senator Rachel Siewert, who is chairing a Senate inquiry into FASD, said that Australia’s “drinking culture is part of the problem’’.

Senator Siewert said the dangers of FASD should be taught at school in alcohol and drug education classes.