Irish mums-to-be drink more alcohol during pregnancy than women in the UK, Australia or New Zealand, according to a new study. 80% of pregnant Irish women admit to drinking, compared with 65% of British pregnant women.

Advertisement

And almost one third of Irish women – 31% – admitted to binge drinking in the first 15 weeks of pregnancy. This is compared to just 4% in New Zealand.

The study assessed the alcohol consumption of 5,628 women during the first 15 weeks of their pregnancy.

The study, which was published in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, was undertaken to examine the effect of alcohol consumption in the first 15 weeks of pregnancy and it found that it did not correlate with low birth weight, pre-eclampsia or a premature birth.

But, said Professor Louise Kenny, who led the study: “Although the research indicates that alcohol consumption in early pregnancy does not appear to adversely affect conditions like reduced birth weight or spontaneous preterm birth, it is really important to state that this study did not evaluate the association between alcohol consumption in pregnancy and long-term neurocognitive outcomes of children exposed as foetuses to alcohol.”

More like this

The research was undertaken at the University College Cork. It looked at the drinking habits of pregnant women in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. A follow-up study will look at more countries in Europe.

Foetal Acohol Syndrome is a serious disorder that occurs when babies are prenatally exposed to alcohol. FAS children typically have distinctively shaped skulls, eyes and upper lips. It is entirely preventable, but causes permanent birth defects such as intellectual disability, memory disorders, learning disorders, behaviour disorders and physical damage such as restricted growth, visual and eye defects, hearing defects, cerebal palsy and genital defects.

The Department of Health advises pregnant women to not drink at all but, if that’s not possible, to limit their drinking. The NHS advises: “If you choose to drink, protect your baby by not drinking more than one to two units of alcohol once or twice a week, and don't get drunk.”

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) advises women who are pregnant to avoid alcohol in the first three months in particular, because of the increased risk of miscarriage.

The National Organisation for Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, a UK charity, says there is evidence that even low levels of drinking during pregnancy leads to milder problems.

Dr Moira Plant, professor of alcohol studies at the University of West of England and the country's leading expert on women and alcohol, says: "If the alcohol is more important to the woman than her baby, then she needs help rather than scorn. And women need balanced and accurate information because it's scary enough when you're pregnant."

Read more...

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement