Women’s Health Nurses & Midwives Collaborate for Alcohol-Free Pregnancy (WHNMCAP)

Alcohol use during pregnancy is associated with a group of life-long conditions known as FASDs. These conditions affect each person in different ways and can range from mild to severe. For example, person with an FASD might have difficulty with attention or hyperactivity, poor memory or speech and language delays, or problems with physical development. 

Alcohol use is common in Alaska. According to 2024 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data, 54% of Alaskan adults consumed alcohol in the last 30 days and 20% reported binge or heavy drinking. In 2015, the last year for which data is available, 6.8% of Alaskans who were pregnant reported drinking alcohol during the last three months of pregnancy.

Using information from AWHONN and NPWH member surveys as well as other professional expertise and advise about the educational and training needs of nursing and midwifery professionals to effectively prevent alcohol-exposed pregnancies and FASDs, our partnership works to reach advanced practice nurses, midwives, and nurses through innovative strategies such as microlearning videos, social media campaigns, targeted materials and resources, webinars, and other training opportunities. We use evidence-based messages for professionals and patients, and our materials contain a wealth of information about how nurses and midwives can advise their patients about lowering their risk for an alcohol or substance-exposed pregnancy as well as tools they can use in their daily practice.