Alcohol and pregnancy

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

Gen2040 is leading the national rollout of the tools that will see significant improvements across health services, ensuring all pēpī, especially pēpī Māori, are given the best start in life.

Best Start Kōwae will be freely available for use by primary care providers and lead maternity carers across Aotearoa.

More information

Find out how to access the tools for your practice

Evaluation of the Early Pregnancy Assessment Approach in the Whanganui Region: This evaluation report identifies the successes and challenges during early implementation of the EPAA in Whanganui. It provides recommendations for wider implementation of the EPAA.

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.

Insights from women about drinking alcohol during pregnancy, this report discusses the findings of new qualitative research on insights from women about drinking alcohol during pregnancy. The research involved interviews with 24 pregnant women or recent mothers who either held the attitude that it’s not OK to drink at all or it’s OK to drink a little occasionally. Women were asked about: their attitudes and behaviours towards drinking alcohol during pregnancy, factors influencing drinking during pregnancy and the role of influencers (ie the people in their lives who provide information, advice and social pressure).

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy, a literature review undertaken by Te Hiringa Hauora in 2014, reviews recent New Zealand and international published research on alcohol and pregnancy.

Evaluation of the Early Pregnancy Assessment Approach (Whakauae Research for Māori Health and Development, 2015) – The Whanganui Regional Health Network’s Early Pregnancy Assessment Approach (EPAA) is designed to improve identification and management of early pregnancy risk factors within the primary care setting. It is a comprehensive model that includes an early pregnancy screening tool for general practice, maternity support roles and strengthened referral pathways and information sharing between general practice and other health and social services. This implementation evaluation was commissioned by Te Hiringa Hauora in 2015. It describes the EPAA, identifies successes and challenges of early implementation in Whanganui and provides recommendations for wider implementation of the EPAA.

Evaluation of the Hawke’s Bay DHB Developmental Assessment Programme FASD Assessment Pathway (Health and Safety Developments, 2015) - The Hawke’s Bay District Health Board (DHB) Developmental Assessment Programme (DAP) provides multi-disciplinary diagnostic assessments of children with complex developmental and behavioural concerns. One component of the DAP is a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Assessment Pathway for children with developmental and behavioural issues potentially related to prenatal alcohol exposure. This process evaluation of the DAP FASD Assessment Pathway was commissioned by Te Hiringa Hauora in 2015. It describes core components and delivery mechanisms of the FASD Assessment Pathway, identifies key implementation successes and challenges and outlines considerations for replication of an FASD Assessment Pathway in other regions.

Insights from women about drinking alcohol during pregnancy, qualitative research undertaken by Te Hiringa Hauora in 2014, explores factors that influence alcohol drinking practices during pregnancy among different groups of New Zealand women.  

Evaluation of the Waitemata DHB CADS Pregnancy and Parenting Service (Health and Safety Developments, 2015) - Reducing harm for children affected by parental addiction and reducing unequal access to addiction services are key priorities for the Te Hiringa Hauora. Waitemata DHB Community Alcohol and Drug Service (CADS) Pregnancy and Parenting Service (PPS) provides an intensive assertive outreach case coordination service for parents of children aged under three-years-old and pregnant women who are experiencing problems with alcohol and other drugs. This process evaluation was commissioned by Te Hiringa Hauora to understand more about the PPS model, identify implementation successes and challenges and explore considerations for service replication in other regions.

Consumer awareness and understanding of alcohol pregnancy warning labels (Colmar Brunton, Social Research Agency, 2016) - This research was funded buy Te Hiringa Hauora and uses an online survey to find out about consumer awareness, recall and knowledge of current alcohol pregnancy warning labels. The research highlights the important role of alcohol warning labelling in raising awareness of the risks and harms of drinking alcohol while pregnant (or when planning a pregnancy).

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.

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 can be used to provide a quick assessment of how much and how often a woman is drinking alcohol.

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.

Don't know? Don't drink campaign digital toolkit -information and resources to support the campaign that encourages women to stop drinking alcohol if there is any chance they could be pregnant. The latest phase of this campaign is Pre-Testie Bestie.

Alcohol and Pregnancy: What you might not know -  a pamphlet with information on the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Alcohol-free pregnancy key messages - an infosheet with key messages about alcohol-free pregnancies developed by Te Hiringa Hauora consultation with the Ministry of Health. Use these messages to review and update websites and in print resources.

Taking Action on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: 2016-2019 - An action plan - New Zealand's national policy document.

‘Give baby the best start in life’ a short animation developed by Counties Manukau Health with simple informative messages - if you could be pregnant to stop drinking alcohol.

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 and FASD resources for health professionals. Collection of resources developed by the Telethon Kids Institute (Australia) to support health professionals to address the issue of alcohol use in pregnancy with women.