Improving the detection of fetal risk maternal alcohol consumption levels with improved and expanded retrospective methods could aid in the proper diagnosis of – and subsequent intervention with – affected children. All current diagnostic systems require knowledge of “significant” or “heavy” or “substantial” maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy for a diagnosis of ARNDs, or alcohol-related birth defects (ARBDs) (Astley, 2006; Bertrand, et al., 2005; Hoyme, et al., 2005; Manning & Hoyme, 2007; Stratton, et al., 1996). The current results support the hypothesis that retrospective report can be at least as effective as antenatal estimates in defining maternal risk drinking. It remains possible that retrospective report after many years could be compromised by poor or altered recall, influenced by current or intervening maternal drinking, or biased by maternal perceptions of child outcomes. Nonetheless, using valid retrospective report may also reduce the likelihood of denying or distorting alcohol use during pregnancy, can substantiate antenatal assessments, and effectively aid in later diagnoses. In conclusion, valid retrospective assessment of prior in-pregnancy drinking can be an effective indicator of prenatal exposure, predict common prenatal alcohol-related
