Support from partners (male or female), other family members, friends and larger social networks can play a key role in influencing women’s decisions and ability to abstain from alcohol use during pregnancy.
In general, our drinking patterns are greatly influenced by our friends and family, especially our partners. It makes sense, then, that many women are more likely to avoid alcohol during pregnancy when their partners support them in doing so; on the other hand, many women find it more difficult to stop or reduce their drinking when their partners oppose that decision.
Some awareness campaigns and resources for partners suggest that partners take a “pregnant pause” from drinking during pregnancy as a way of showing support. While some women may find this helpful, other women may not find this necessary.
So, what kind of partner support is helpful for women? Research in this area is still preliminary, but there have been a handful of recent studies exploring some of these issues.
For example, a study published this month by researchers in the Netherlands interviewed 158 pregnant women and their partners (Van der Wulp, Hoving and de Vries, 2014). They looked at three different ways that partners can influence women’s drinking during pregnancy:
- Perceived and reported partner norm (e.g., My partner considers it important that I do not drink alcohol in pregnancy)
- Partner modeling (e.g., My partner does not drink alcohol in my presence)
- Partner support (e.g., My partner supports me in drinking no alcohol during pregnancy)
The researchers found that pregnant women who drank alcohol believed that their partner considered alcohol abstinence important less often than pregnant women who did not drink alcohol. Additionally, pregnant women who drank alcohol believed that their partner drank alcohol in their presence more often when compared to pregnant women who abstained from alcohol. Compared to partners of pregnant women who abstained from alcohol, partners of pregnant women who did drink alcohol reported that they believed that their pregnant spouse should abstain from alcohol less often, that they were using alcohol on more days per week; and that they provided a lower amount of support.
Overall, the study found that women’s perceptions of their partner’s belief in the acceptability of prenatal alcohol use was the most important partner influence, meaning that a woman is more likely to use alcohol during pregnancy when she thinks that her partner agrees with this decision.
Another study published this year asked 648 pregnant and non-pregnant women in Russia as to who or what influenced their decisions about alcohol consumption during pregnancy (Balachova et al, 2014). While women reported that their own knowledge about the issues and information from an obstetrician/gynecologist/nurse were the most important influences, friends and family were not far behind.
Women at risk of drinking alcohol during pregnancy (as indicated by T-ACE/TWEAK screening) and younger women (ages 18-29) reported a more significant impact by their husbands or partners. Overall, 63% of women said that it was important for their husbands or partners to received information on the effects of drinking during pregnancy.
At a big picture level, this emerging body of research suggests the importance of viewing FASD prevention as a shared responsibility and that abstaining from alcohol use during pregnancy is not solely the responsibility of pregnant women.
At a practical level, it’s important to remember that every woman’s situation is unique and that service providers need to develop individual approaches to working with women, her partner, and extended support networks. For practice tips and resources, visit the Alcohol, Pregnancy and Partner Support section of the Coalescing on Women and Substance Use website.
For more on men and FASD prevention, see earlier posts:
- How Men Can Help Prevent FASD (March 11, 2014)
- Pregnant Pause Campaign for Aussie Dads (October 1, 2013)
- FASD Prevention in Australia’s Ord Valley (October 13, 2011)
- Getting Fathers Involved (January 4, 2011)
References/Suggested Reading
Balachova, T., Bonner, B., Bard, D., Chaffin, M., Isurina, G., Owora, A., Tsvetkova, L. and Volkova, E. (2014). Women’s receptivity to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders prevention approaches: A case study of two regions in Russia. International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research, 3(1): 5-15. (Open Access)
Bridge, P. (2011). Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service’s fetal alcohol spectrum disorders program: Big steps, solid outcome. Australian Indigenous Health Bulletin, 11(4). (Open Access)
Gearing, R.E., McNeill, T. and Lozier, F.A. (2005). Father involvement and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: Developing best practices. Fetal Alcohol Research, 3: e14. (Open Access)
Mellingen, S., Torsheim, T. and Thuen, F. (2013). Changes in alcohol use and relationship satisfaction in Norwegian couples during pregnancy. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention & Policy, 8(1): 1-11. (Open Access)
Van der Wulp, N., Hoving, C. and de Vries, H. (2013). A qualitative investigation of alcohol use advice during pregnancy: Experiences of Dutch midwives, pregnant women and their partners. Midwifery, 29(11): e89-98.
Van der Wulp, N., Hoving, C. and de Vries, H. (2014). Partner’s Influences and Other Correlates of Prenatal Alcohol Use. Maternal and Child Health Journal. (published online ahead of print).
Girls, Women, Alcohol, and Pregnancy 