Pregnant women told not to drink alcohol during first three months

WOMEN trying to conceive and those in the first three months of pregnancy have now been advised not to drink ANY alcohol, under new guidelines issued today.

Picture of pregnant woman with a glass of wineGETTY IMAGES

Pregnant women should not drink at all in their first three months, experts say

During early pregnancy, the safest approach is to abstain from alcohol

Philippa Marsden

Previously women were told they could have one or two units a week but now updated advice from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) says women should abstain from drink completely. 

They say there is no proven safe amount that women can drink during pregnancy and the only way to be certain that the baby is not harmed by alcohol is not to drink at all during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

However small amounts of alcohol after the first trimester do not appear to be harmful, the new information says.

After this time women are advised to not drink more than one to two units, more than once or twice a week.

Meanwhile drinking around conception and during the first three months of pregnancy may increase the chance of miscarriage.

The guidance states that drinking alcohol may affect the unborn baby as some will pass through the placenta and into its bloodstream.

This can affect the baby's development, in particular the way its brain develops and how it grows in the womb.

This can lead to foetal growth restriction, increase the risk of stillbirth and premature labour.

Chairwoman of the RCOG's Patient Information Committee, Philippa Marsden, said: "For women planning a family, it is advisable not to drink during this time. Either partner drinking heavily can make it more difficult to conceive.

"During early pregnancy, the safest approach is to abstain from alcohol and after the first trimester keep within the recommended amounts if you do decide to have an alcohol drink. The same applies for women who decide to breastfeed.

"If you cut down or stop drinking at any point during pregnancy, it can make a difference to your baby. However, in some instances, once the damage has been done, it cannot be reversed."

Can I drink alcohol while pregnant - NHS Choices

Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, urged women not to be unduly concerned if they drank alcohol before realising they were pregnant.

"It may be wise to avoid alcohol when planning a baby, but the fact is many pregnancies are not planned," she said.

"We should reassure women that if they have had an episode of binge-drinking before they found out they were pregnant, they really should not worry. It is very troubling to see women so concerned about the damage they have caused their baby they consider ending what would otherwise be a wanted pregnancy, when there's no need for such anxiety.

"This guidance also makes clear that, after the first three months, there is no evidence of harm to the baby at low levels of alcohol, so women who like to relax with a glass of wine once or twice a week should not feel guilty about doing so."

Dr Simon Newell, consultant neonatologist and vice president for training and assessment at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: "There are lots of mixed messages when it comes to alcohol advice so today's guidance is a welcome and reliable source of information for women who are thinking about trying for a baby and for women who have already become pregnant.

"We know that around 6,000 babies a year in the UK are born with some form of foetal alcohol spectrum and, as a consultant neonatologist, I see first-hand the serious harm this can have - it can cause brain damage, learning disabilities and physical problems.

"It is impossible to say what constitutes as a 'safe' amount of alcohol a mother can drink as every pregnancy is different, so our advice to mothers is don't take a chance with your baby's health and drink no alcohol at all."

Picture of pregnant woman drinking wineGETTY IMAGES

Women are being told that drinking while pregnant harms the baby
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