< Alcohol and pregnancy

Resources for health professionals

Research tells us that women expect health professionals to give them advice about drinking alcohol during pregnancy. The following tools and resources are intended to support health professionals in this role.

Alcohol and pregnancy learning programme for midwives and LMCs. Online professional development programme developed in partnership with New Zealand College of midwives. The course covers how individuals and communities are affected by and FASD and explores the unique role of midwives in supporting alcohol-free pregnancies.

Alcohol and Pregnancy – summary of evidence outlines why alcohol use is an issue during pregnancy, New Zealand statistics and approaches to reducing alcohol use in pregnancy.

ABC Alcohol for Pregnancy A two page practical guide to help primary care health professionals address alcohol use in pregnancy in their conversations with women.

Alcohol and Pregnancy - A practical guide for health professionals Ministry of Health (2010) booklet to support primary care professionals to ask women about alcohol use and to provide advice and support.

The Best Start Kōwae is a suite of innovative assessment tools for use by Primary and Maternity Care Providers, designed to improve quality care throughout the pregnancy journey. For more information.

Taking Action on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: 2016-2019 - An action plan New Zealand's national policy document. For more information and to download or order the action plan

Alcohol Drug Helpline Information about specialist addiction services and related referral processes. The helpline offers free, confidential information, help and support relating to alcohol issues (call 0800 787 797, visit their website, or free txt 8681).

AUDIT-C or Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Internationally recognised alcohol assessment screening tool. It can be used to provide a quick assessment of how much and how often a woman is drinking alcohol.

 

Health promotion guides are available to support the development or revision of the Pre-conception or First Antenatal Health Pathways. To learn more about getting the Health Pathways guides contact enquiries@hpa.org.nz.


Alcohol and Pregnancy discussed at 2015 RNZCGP Conference

Check out Dr John McMenamin talking with Kiri Milne from Te Hiringa Hauora/Health Promotion Agency about health professionals’ role in addressing alcohol use in pregnancy.