Rabu, 20 Juni 2012

Drink a day for pregnant women 'won't harm baby'

Drink a day for pregnant women 'won't harm baby'

By Jenny Hope

PUBLISHED: 18:02 EST, 19 June 2012 | UPDATED: 19:34 EST, 19 June 2012

The study is the first significant evidence that occasional binge drinking in the early stages of pregnancy will not harm a baby

The study is the first significant evidence that occasional binge drinking in the early stages of pregnancy will not harm a baby

Drinking alcohol while trying to conceive or in early pregnancy â€" even the occasional binge â€" will not harm the baby’s development, research has claimed.

It also shows moderate drinking, around one a day, does not affect the child’s IQ and other brain functions.

However, high levels of consumption â€" nine or more drinks a week â€" were linked to a lower attention span at the age of five.

The findings contradict official guidance, which says alcohol is best avoided in pregnancy and when trying to conceive.

Previous research has suggested the odd tipple does not affect intellectual or behavioural development, but this is the first significant evidence that occasional binge drinking in the early weeks of pregnancy is unlikely to irrevocably harm the baby.

Danish doctors behind the research said the findings should not be taken as a green light for pregnant women to binge drink, defined as having five or more drinks on o ne occasion.

Joint author Professor Ulrik Kesmodel, of Aarhus University Hospital, said it was clear that heavy, continuous drinking was detrimental to the unborn child.

Heavy drinking in pregnancy is linked to Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in children, which can cause physical, mental and behavioural problems. Newly pregnant women were often concerned their baby had been conceived at a time when they may have been binge drinking, said Prof Kesmodel.

But he added: ‘These findings, which were unexpected, should bring some comfort to women if they were drinking before they realised they were pregnant.’ A total of 1,628 women, aged 31 on average, were recruited for the research at their first antenatal visit.

Their weekly drinking habits were recorded, with low consumption defined as one to four drinks, moderate as five to eight and high levels as nine or more. Women who did not drink during pregnancy were included for comparison. In Denmark, one standard drink is equal to 12 grams of pure alcohol, compared with a unit of 7.9g in the UK.

Five studies published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology looked at the effects of alcohol on IQ, attention span, and functions such as planning, organisation and self-control in five-year-old children.

The study by Danish researchers contradicts the official advice warning pregnant women to stop drinking

The study by Danish researchers contradicts the official advice warning pregnant women to stop drinking

They showed occasional binge drinking, or low to moderate weekly drinking, in early pregnancy had no significant effect on the neurodevelopment of children aged five.

No differences in IQ and other tests were found between children whose mothers had up to eight drinks a week in pregnancy compared with those abstaining.

There was also no effect on a child’s selective attention and sustained attention in children of mothers drinking up to eight drinks a week. However, nine or more drinks a week were associated with a lower attention span among five-year-olds.

Prof Kesmodel, a consultant gynaecologist who carried out the studies with Erik Lykke Mortensen at the University of Copenhagen, said: ‘We were not so surprised to find no effects from lower levels of drinking, as previous research suggested this, but we didn’t even find subtle effects caused by low to moderate and binge drinking.

‘But the key message is that drin king during pregnancy is not beneficial and additional studies should be undertaken.’

The Department of Health said: ‘Our advice remains that women who are trying to conceive or are pregnant should avoid alcohol.’

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

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Actually it was a relief to me. I was very careful not to drink before I found out I was pregnant first time, but never expected to be pregnant this time and was boozing heavily every night (it was over New Year's, lots of parties etc). I stopped the minute I found out and the baby is fine, but it was an utterly sickening feeling, not least because I've taught kids with FAS. My gut feeling is that before the placenta is established, you can

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I myself didn't drink at all in the first 6 months of my pregnancy as I didn't want to risk it and also even the smell of it make me gag!! I will admit to having a small glass of wine at a wedding and another at a party in the last 3 months. I think reports like this are dangerous and gives the green light to drinking...40 weeks is nothing ladies to keep way from the booze!

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You would give a baby a glass of wine in its bottle why would you give it one whilst inside you ! 9 months isn't an eternity to wait for a bevvy and if you can't I would suggest you have a problem

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As a midwife in the Ante Natal Clinic talking to pregnant women 4 days a week, I will continue to advise women not to smoke drink take drugs ( other than those prescribed or panadol/iron/vitamins) engage in high impact sports and eat unpasteurised cheese and a host of other 'things'. Dear god, at the end of the day its up to them what muck they put into their body - but have to say most women just go off alcohol anyway. Only the hardened alkies continue. Its their choice really. Many women do look for advice and heed it.

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The 5 studies looked at a very limited range of developmental parameters for assessing the mental development of children, and they did so only up to the age of 5, long before complete cognitive maturity. Therefore, I would be very cautious of taking this as a

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Being pregnant now I have to say that the last thing on my mind is alcohol. The thought makes me feel really queezy. This research will at least reassure those who didn't know they were pregnant during the early weeks and so drank alcohol.

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I am sure a small glass of wine whilst pregnant wouldn't come to any harm, the French do it, Italians and Spanish! ! - skippy, UK, 20/06/2012 07:08 the Italians have the highest levels of foetal alcohol syndrome in Europe.

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I am sure a small glass of wine whilst pregnant wouldn't come to any harm, the French do it, Italians and Spanish! We Brits just have a rep for being binge drinking louts! (which could harm unborn babies!) what really annoys me is after the child is born and the mother is smoking over the pram!

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When will mothers realise that they are the only ones that can protect their child whilst in the womb?! I do not think it is 'hysterical' or 'extreme' to say that giving up smoking and alcohol completely for 9 months to do so should just be one of those things you are prepared to do to help your baby come into the world as healthy as possible....it baffles me why some women find that such a hard thing to do, if you struggle to protect them when they are all cocooned in your belly then god help you when they are independent little beings!

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If you can't give up drink for 9 months for the sake of a baby's health then you have a serious problem

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