Table 1 Midwives’ attitude to drinking

Influence of uncertainties

I think I have always taken the view that it will be better not to drink at all than be unsure about what amount is safe (M11).

Scepticism

Certainly, as a midwife I will probably join in and say, how come women in other countries drink and they don’t suffer from alcohol and here in Britain they are giving mixed messages to women saying don’t drink alcohol at all because it might have an effect on the baby (M9).