This report aims to emphasise parenthood and the relationship with alcohol as a shared responsibility and an important equality issue. It is important that everyone involved is fully familiar with the potential risks associated with alcohol to ensure they can take informed decisions.

Key recommendations
• Policies which reduce the availability, affordability and marketing of alcohol are needed to sustain a low risk environment for alcohol-related birth abnormalities.
• There is a shared responsibility for society at large and healthcare providers to raise awareness of the risks of prenatal alcohol exposure and provide support to pregnant women and their partners to manage these risks and their consequences.
• Persons planning a pregnancy, women as well as their partners, can improve the probability of a healthy pregnancy outcome by abstaining or minimise alcohol exposure.
• It is safest to abstain from any alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Partners may also choose to abstain from drinking during this period, and if they choose to continue drinking they should do so within low-risk guidelines.
• It is also safest to avoid alcohol exposure while breastfeeding. Those who choose to drink during breastfeeding should limit consumption to 1 standard drink, consumed 2 hours prior to breastfeeding.
• An expert national centre should be established in Sweden charged with developing strategies to reduce prenatal alcohol exposure, monitor prevalence of exposure and provide training in screening and treatment.