Why even small amounts of alcohol early in pregnancy can harm your baby

A study has found that women who drink alcohol while they’re pregnant are at higher risk of having smaller babies or of giving birth prematurely.

17:56 11 March 2014

The Department of Health encourages pregnant women not to drink particularly during their first trimester. However, it accepts that some women do. In those cases, the department recommends that they drink no more than one or two units of alcohol. Now, a British study that followed 1,300 pregnant women revealed that even small amounts of alcohol in early pregnancy may harm the baby. These women are at higher risk of having smaller babies or of giving birth prematurely.

“We found that the first trimester [12 weeks] to be the period most sensitive to the effect of alcohol on the developing foetus.” 

“Women adhering to guidelines in this period were still at increased risk of adverse birth outcomes. Our findings suggest that women should be advised to abstain from alcohol when planning to conceive and throughout pregnancy,” the researchers said.

Lead researcher Professor Janet Cade of Leeds University, said that although drinking alcohol can result to having small baby, the link did not prove cause and effect.

Cade said:  “The advice is, if you are thinking of getting pregnant, keep off the alcohol, and if you find yourself pregnant and have been drinking alcohol, don’t worry as the effect will still be small.”