In order to prevent the fatal alcohol spectrum disorder in kids, health providers should take an initiative of asking women who are ready to bear a child, about the consumption of alcohol, suggests the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.

A set of guidelines has been released by the doctors’ organization on Thursday with the objective to help doctors, midwives, nurses and other practitioners about raising the concern of drinking alcohol by women, who are pregnant or planning to conceive.

The recommendations, which have been published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada, are made on the basis of two-year review of international scientific evidence given by the expert committee assembled by the SOGC.

"There are a lot of women asking is it safe to have a few drinks in pregnancy or not, and there are many conflicting reports around the world to say yes or no", said SOGC President Dr. Ahmed Ezzat.

He further said that clear guidelines have been made for health-care workers to advise the women who ask questions on the safety of having drinks during pregnancy and health workers should counsel the women on the basis of these guidelines.

Dr. Gideon Koren, Director of the Motherisk Program at the Hospital of Toronto said that women who drink heavily need the advice of their health care providers, as they put the life of their unborn child at risk by consuming alcohol.