Nadia Sawalha Admits On 'Loose Women' That She Drank Alcohol While Pregnant With Daughter Maddie | HuffPost Life

'Maddie’s liver was the last thing that developed.'

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Life editor at HuffPost UK

Nadia Sawalha admitted she drank alcohol while she was pregnant with her eldest daughter, Maddie, 14.

The 52-year-old, who is also mum to 10-year-old Kiki with her husband Mark Adderley, said she had more than the recommended allowance.

“When I was pregnant, the recommended allowance was one to two units, but I do think if someone introduces a loophole, it will be used,” she said on ‘Loose Women’ on Wednesday 13 April.

“So I would be like: ‘Oh, I’ve had a steak and chips, maybe I’ll just have a glass and a half.’”

ITV/LooseWomen

However the mum-of-two wasn’t pleased with her decision to drink alcohol.

“Maddie’s liver was the last thing that developed,” she added. “The alcohol going down my throat was going directly into the placenta, where she was.

“If I was pouring alcohol into my child’s mouth, you’d wrestle me to the ground.”

Sawalha then claimed she had recently seen pregnant women drinking alcohol and was “disgusted”.

Regarding drinking alcohol while pregnant, the NHS states: “The Chief Medical Officers for the UK recommend that if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all to keep risks to your baby to a minimum.

“Drinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to the baby, with the more you drink, the greater the risk.”

The NHS explains when you drink, alcohol passes from your blood through the placenta and to your baby. A baby’s liver is one of the last organs to develop and doesn’t mature until the later stages of pregnancy.

“Your baby cannot process alcohol as well as you can, and too much exposure to alcohol can seriously affect their development,” the NHS states.

‘Loose Women’ is on ITV on weekdays at 12.30pm.

Before You Go

Signs Of Alcoholism

Abuse: Not Meeting Responsibilities(01 of20)

Abuse, the regular use of a substance that leads to serious psychological and/or physical disability, is shown by one or more of these symptoms during the same year:Repeated substance use to the point of not being able to meet responsibilities -- not performing well at work, being suspended from school, being repeatedly late or absent from required duties, or neglecting household tasks. (credit:Shutterstock)

Abuse: Involving Risk(02 of20)

Abuse, the regular use of a substance that leads to serious psychological and/or physical disability, is shown by one or more of these symptoms during the same year:Repeated substance use when there is risk involved, like operating equipment or driving a car while under the influence. (credit:Shutterstock)

Abuse: Difficulties With The Law(03 of20)

Abuse, the regular use of a substance that leads to serious psychological and/or physical disability, is shown by one or more of these symptoms during the same year:Repeated difficulties with the law related to substance use -- being arrested for physical aggression or drunk driving, for instance. (credit:Shutterstock)

Abuse: Personal Or Social Difficulties(04 of20)

Abuse, the regular use of a substance that leads to serious psychological and/or physical disability, is shown by one or more of these symptoms during the same year:Insisting on using the substance regardless of continued or repeated personal or social difficulties because of it, verbal or physical aggression with a loved one, or frequent arguments about the substance use. (credit:Shutterstock)

Dependence: Needing Great Amounts(05 of20)

Symptoms of alcohol dependence, a physical need to drink, are identified as three or more of the following within the same year:Needing greater amounts of alcohol to satisfy cravings. (credit:Shutterstock)

Dependence: An Inability To Reduce Use(06 of20)

Symptoms of alcohol dependence, a physical need to drink, are identified as three or more of the following within the same year:Using the substance longer than planned or more frequently and in greater amounts.An inability to reduce use, despite a sincere wish to do so. (credit:Shutterstock)

Dependence: Going Through Withdrawal(07 of20)

Symptoms of alcohol dependence, a physical need to drink, are identified as three or more of the following within the same year:Going through withdrawal when not using alcohol, with symptoms such as tremors, restlessness, and agitation. (credit:Shutterstock)

Dependence: Avoiding Withdrawal(08 of20)

Symptoms of alcohol dependence, a physical need to drink, are identified as three or more of the following within the same year:Taking a substance or a similar one to avoid the effects of withdrawal. (credit:Shutterstock)

Dependence: Spending Time On Alcohol(09 of20)

Symptoms of alcohol dependence, a physical need to drink, are identified as three or more of the following within the same year:Spending a significant amount of time trying to acquire the substance.Spending less time at work or on other activities because of substance use; a person may completely abandon previously enjoyable activities. (credit:Shutterstock)

Dependence: Drinking In The Face Of Difficulty(10 of20)

Symptoms of alcohol dependence, a physical need to drink, are identified as three or more of the following within the same year:Continuing to drink despite being aware that alcohol is causing psychological or physical difficulties. (credit:Shutterstock)

Addiction: Saying Inappropriate Things(11 of20)

Stephen Gilman, MD, an addiction specialist in New York City, helps determine the severity of alcohol addiction by asking the following questions:Does he/she frequently say inappropriate things? (credit:Shutterstock)

Addiction: Slurred Speech(12 of20)

Stephen Gilman, MD, an addiction specialist in New York City, helps determine the severity of alcohol addiction by asking the following questions:Does his/her speech slurred? (credit:Shutterstock)

Addiction: Missing Work(13 of20)

Stephen Gilman, MD, an addiction specialist in New York City, helps determine the severity of alcohol addiction by asking the following questions:Does he/she miss work? (credit:Shutterstock)

Addiction: Off Balance(14 of20)

Stephen Gilman, MD, an addiction specialist in New York City, helps determine the severity of alcohol addiction by asking the following questions:Is his/her balance off when they walk? (credit:Shutterstock)

Addiction: Trouble With The Law(15 of20)

Stephen Gilman, MD, an addiction specialist in New York City, helps determine the severity of alcohol addiction by asking the following questions:Has he/she gotten in trouble with the law, for example, with drinking and driving? (credit:Shutterstock)

Addiction: Health Problems(16 of20)

Stephen Gilman, MD, an addiction specialist in New York City, helps determine the severity of alcohol addiction by asking the following questions:Is he having health issues related to alcohol addiction, such as heartburn, liver problems, high blood pressure, or insomnia? (credit:Shutterstock)

Question To Ask: Should I Cut Down?(17 of20)

Take the CAGE questionnaire -- if the answer to two or more of the four CAGE questions is yes, it is likely you have a problem.C stands for cut-down: Do you ever feel that you should cut down on your drinking? (credit:Shutterstock)

Question To Ask: People Getting Annoyed?(18 of20)

Take the CAGE questionnaire -- if the answer to two or more of the four CAGE questions is yes, it is likely you have a problem.A stands for annoyed: Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking? (credit:Shutterstock)

Question To Ask: Ever Felt Guilty?(19 of20)

Take the CAGE questionnaire -- if the answer to two or more of the four CAGE questions is yes, it is likely you have a problem.G stands for guilty: Have you ever felt guilty about your drinking? (credit:Shutterstock)

Question To Ask: Drinking To 'Recover'?(20 of20)

Take the CAGE questionnaire -- if the answer to two or more of the four CAGE questions is yes, it is likely you have a problem.E stands for eye-opener: Have you ever had to drink as soon as you wake up to steady your nerves or get over a hangover? (credit:Shutterstock)

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