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17/04/2013
Study Finds Light Drinking During Pregnancy 'Not Harmful'
An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (BJOG) study has found that light drinking during pregnancy does not harm child behavioural or mental development.
Some 10,534 seven-year-old children whose mothers had either abstained from alcohol or drank lightly while pregnant, were analysed in the study, which found little difference between the two groups.
Co-author of the study, Prof Yvonne Kelly, said: "We know heavy drinking during pregnancy has a very deleterious effect, but it is very unlikely that drinking small amounts will have an impact.
"It doesn't seem biologically plausible that small amounts of alcohol would affect development either way. The environment children grow up in is massively more important.
"While we have followed these children for the first seven years of their lives, further research is needed to detect whether any adverse effects from low levels of alcohol consumption in pregnancy emerge later in childhood."
(H/CD)
Some 10,534 seven-year-old children whose mothers had either abstained from alcohol or drank lightly while pregnant, were analysed in the study, which found little difference between the two groups.
Co-author of the study, Prof Yvonne Kelly, said: "We know heavy drinking during pregnancy has a very deleterious effect, but it is very unlikely that drinking small amounts will have an impact.
"It doesn't seem biologically plausible that small amounts of alcohol would affect development either way. The environment children grow up in is massively more important.
"While we have followed these children for the first seven years of their lives, further research is needed to detect whether any adverse effects from low levels of alcohol consumption in pregnancy emerge later in childhood."
(H/CD)
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