‘I don’t think it’s risky, but…’: pregnant women’s risk perceptions of maternal drinking and smoking

Pregnancy as a transition: First‐time expectant couples′ experience with alcohol consumption

“…Similar to other studies, some women became strictly abstinent, while others defined their own limits of alcohol consumption . Such responses to risk, labelled as ‘responsible drinking practices’ by the women themselves, have been found in other studies . Consistent with prior research , our findings underline that the responsibility of changing drinking habits rested mainly on the shoulders of women.…”

“…For example, health professionals could pay attention to both partners′ drinking habits before pregnancy, such as alcohol as a social identity marker or as a response to stressors . Health professionals can also pay attention to conflicting advice and social norms about antenatal alcohol consumption, as well as to women′s feelings of anxiety and guilt, even when they consume very small amounts of alcohol . Third, our findings suggest enhancing the involvement of the partners of pregnant women.…”

“…They emphasise that a woman′s abstinence during pregnancy is based on a complex interplay of factors, such as expert information, fear of adverse outcomes, cultural norms and the advice of friends and parents . A perceived openness to having an occasional drink during pregnancy is related to a woman′s lay understanding and experience of risk, cravings, social situations and drinking culture, as well as psychological and material stressors . However, few studies have addressed the issue of maternal drinking through the lens of pregnancy as a transition .…”