Smoking And Pregnancy Research

The Control and Monitoring of Smoking and Alcohol Consumption during Pregnancy
1.1 Introduction
When it comes to the topic of women and pregnancy there is much debate and controversy surrounding what a woman should and should not do with her body. A reason for this is that a woman is not only caring for herself but for another human being, as pregnancy entails “having a child or young developing in the uterus” (Oxford Dictionaries, 2016). This is why smoking and alcohol consumption during pregnancy can be frowned upon, due to the negative health impacts it can have on the mother and her unborn child. Evidence and research have instigated the policing of a pregnant woman’s body. This is being done by strategies to control smoking, by confronting
In a journal article, ‘What influences Australian women to not drink during pregnancy?’, the participants stated that, “during social events there was an expectation that alcohol would be consumed” (Jones & Telenta, 2012, p. 5). This study highlighted that there is an acceptance of alcohol in society however, it is hindered when it comes to consumption of alcohol during one’s pregnancy. The source highlights how social attitudes and morals of what is right for the woman’s body and unborn child change as many believe it is unacceptable for a woman to consume a substantial amount of alcohol due to the associated health risks and defects for the child. One example is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, which is defined by the National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (Nofasd, 2013) as “a term used for a spectrum of conditions caused by fetal alcohol exposure”. The associated risks differ for children and can include, “learning difficulties, impulsiveness, major organ damage…” (Nofasd, 2013). Evidence and study on these health effects are reasons why many countries are trying to find ways to monitor the heavy consumption of alcohol for pregnant
An article on ABC’S The Drum, ‘Should drinking while pregnant be a crime?’, highlights a case where a mother was being tried for criminal injustices as her child developed Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (2014), which could become a precedent for other cases like this one. The author of the article, Clementine Ford is against this strategy in monitoring alcohol consumption as she states, “We have no right to intervene or dictate the behaviours of any woman's body, not even if we perceive justifiable cause” (2014). The article also underlines the argument that policing of a woman’s body and the woman’s rights, is is a sensitive issue that should not be taken lightly. This strategy is one that will always be controversial but countries are finding different ways to deal with the issue of consumption. France alongside other countries including Australia have put in place a law that all alcohol bottles should contain warnings via text or pictograms, about the impact it can have on pregnant women. In a fact sheet constructed by the project, ‘PROTECT’, states what ‘text’ should be written on alcohol,” Consumption of alcoholic beverages during pregnancy, even in small amounts, may have serious consequences on child’s health” (Farke & Veillard, n.d. p.3). This strategy aims to make women more aware of the associated