Drinking Alcohol during Pregnancy

Many of you have surely heard that once a woman finds out she is pregnant she should drink only nonalcoholic drinks during all the 9 months of pregnancy, otherwise she may risk her future baby’s health. But a group of researchers from the University College London, led by Dr. Yvonne Kelly, revealed that light drinking causes no harm during pregnancy. The researches defined light drinking as one to two drinks a week. Learn about the effect of alcohol consumption on the health of your future baby below.

The study of 12500 three year olds showed that light drinking by mothers during pregnancy had a minor effect on the health of their babies. According to interviews with mothers, 63% abstained from drinking while pregnant, 29% drank lightly, 6% drank moderately and 2% drank heavily. Three years later, the researchers examined newborn babies and interviewed their parents once again. The study data show that boys born to mothers who drank lightly were 40 percent less likely to have behavioral difficulties and 30 percent less likely to have hyperactivity compared to those born to abstinent mothers. As to girls, they were 30 percent less likely to have emotional problems.

However experts disagree on the interpretation of these findings. The question is whether it will reassure women or lull them into a false sense of security and provoke them to make mistakes. The government encourages pregnant women to avoid drinking alcohol. But if you do drink, make sure you drink no more than two units a week. The link between heavy drinking and pregnancy problems is well established. In worst cases, it may lead to miscarriages, death or abnormal embryonic development. Also, children may be born with mental and physical development problems.

Dr. Yvonne Kelly says the positive effects of light drinking could be attributable to the social environment, education level, higher income households and the fact that such mothers feel more comfortable.