New research published in the Journal Of Epidemiology And Community Health concluded that children of mothers who drank one or two units of alcohol a week during pregnancy have suffered no ill-effects by the time they are 5 years old. They also do not have a behavioural difficulties and neither are they behind in their intellectual development.The study looked at 11,500 children who were born between September 2000 and January 2002, mother were questioned about their drinking habits while pregnant. Through It they found that children whose mothers had been regular drinkers - having seven or more units a week, or six at one sitting ( one unit being half a glass of wine or third of a pint of beer ) were more likely to have behavioural and emotional problems than those whose mothers abstained during the pregnancy.
However, there was no evidence to suggest that the children of light drinkers, whose mothers had no more than the odd glass of wine a week, had been in any way harmed.
In fact, the children of women who had a couple of units of alcohol per week were 30% less likely to have behavioural problems and and had higher scores in mental developments tests than those of women who hadn't had any alcohol at all.
The government stands on the side of caution by advising pregnant women should stay away from alcohol.
The executive Director of of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome-UK, Susan Fleisher adds; We support and reiterate the Department of Health guidance, which is to avoid alcohol when pregnant or trying to conceive.
The Dr. Yvonne Kelly of University College London's department of epidemiology and public health, is the author of the report and argues that the findings should help to give women credible information to help them decide whether to drink alcohol during pregnancy.
