UK Wedding News
18/06/2013
The research, which is part of a report in the online medical journal BMJ Open, looked at 7,000 children whose mothers' alcohol consumption during and after pregnancy was known.
It found that children of mothers who drank 'moderately' in their pregnancy actually grew up to have better balance than those who abstained, and experts say being able to balance, such as standing on one leg, is a sign of good brain development while in the womb.
Official guidelines for expectant mothers advise to avoid alcohol in pregnancy, but previous studied have also found light drinking does not adversely affect aspects of brain function or behaviour.
According to the latest study, which was part of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), now suggests that up to seven glasses of alcohol a week does not seem to harm fetal neurodevelopment.
As part of the research, the 7,000 children took part in a 20 minute balance assessment when they reached the age of 10. The study included walking on a beam and standing on one leg for 20 seconds with their eyes open, and then again with their eyes closed. Each child had two attempts at the test.
Their fathers were also asked how much alcohol they drank when their partners were three months pregnant, with more than half admitting to drinking one or more glasses a week, while one in five said they drank one or more glasses a day.
When the mother's were asked, 70% said they had no alcohol while pregnant, with one in four having a low consumption (between one and two glasses) or a moderate consumption (between three and seven glasses a week).
Almost one in 20 admitted to drinking seven or more glasses a week while they were expecting.
Four years after the pregnancy, more than 28% of women were not drinking any alcohol, while more than half were found to be drinking moderately. In general, those who drank more – but who were not binge drinkers, that is, having four or more glasses at any one time – were better off and older, while the mums who binge drank were less well off and younger.
Higher total alcohol consumption before and after pregnancy by the mums, as well as higher consumption by the dad during the first three months of pregnancy, were linked to better performance by the children, particularly static balance, compared with non-drinkers.
Professor John Macleod of Bristol University, who led the research, said he intends to continue telling women if they want to 'play safe' they should not drink while pregnant, but stressed: "There is no strong evidence that moderate alcohol consumption of a glass of wine a day has important adverse effects on the child."
Janet Fyle, Professional Policy Advisor at the Royal College of Midwives, added: "We recognise that this is useful research.
"However, there is also a large amount of evidence suggesting that the cumulative effects of alcohol consumption during pregnancy can harm the developing fetus.
"Our advice continues to be that for women who are trying to conceive or those that are pregnant it is best to avoid alcohol."
(JP/CD)
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Expectant Mothers 'Can Drink While Pregnant'
New research has suggested that having a glass of wine a day during pregnancy may not harm a child's development.The research, which is part of a report in the online medical journal BMJ Open, looked at 7,000 children whose mothers' alcohol consumption during and after pregnancy was known.
It found that children of mothers who drank 'moderately' in their pregnancy actually grew up to have better balance than those who abstained, and experts say being able to balance, such as standing on one leg, is a sign of good brain development while in the womb.
Official guidelines for expectant mothers advise to avoid alcohol in pregnancy, but previous studied have also found light drinking does not adversely affect aspects of brain function or behaviour.
According to the latest study, which was part of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), now suggests that up to seven glasses of alcohol a week does not seem to harm fetal neurodevelopment.
As part of the research, the 7,000 children took part in a 20 minute balance assessment when they reached the age of 10. The study included walking on a beam and standing on one leg for 20 seconds with their eyes open, and then again with their eyes closed. Each child had two attempts at the test.
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Their fathers were also asked how much alcohol they drank when their partners were three months pregnant, with more than half admitting to drinking one or more glasses a week, while one in five said they drank one or more glasses a day.
When the mother's were asked, 70% said they had no alcohol while pregnant, with one in four having a low consumption (between one and two glasses) or a moderate consumption (between three and seven glasses a week).
Almost one in 20 admitted to drinking seven or more glasses a week while they were expecting.
Four years after the pregnancy, more than 28% of women were not drinking any alcohol, while more than half were found to be drinking moderately. In general, those who drank more – but who were not binge drinkers, that is, having four or more glasses at any one time – were better off and older, while the mums who binge drank were less well off and younger.
Higher total alcohol consumption before and after pregnancy by the mums, as well as higher consumption by the dad during the first three months of pregnancy, were linked to better performance by the children, particularly static balance, compared with non-drinkers.
Professor John Macleod of Bristol University, who led the research, said he intends to continue telling women if they want to 'play safe' they should not drink while pregnant, but stressed: "There is no strong evidence that moderate alcohol consumption of a glass of wine a day has important adverse effects on the child."
Janet Fyle, Professional Policy Advisor at the Royal College of Midwives, added: "We recognise that this is useful research.
"However, there is also a large amount of evidence suggesting that the cumulative effects of alcohol consumption during pregnancy can harm the developing fetus.
"Our advice continues to be that for women who are trying to conceive or those that are pregnant it is best to avoid alcohol."
(JP/CD)
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20/03/2020
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