 News
26th May 2008
More than half of pregnant women drink alcoholMore
than half of pregnant women drink alcohol despite warnings it can lead to their
children developing health problems, research has revealed. The latest
Health Service figures show 55 per cent of women have drunk while expecting. The
study also revealed that older pregnant mothers are more likely to drink than
younger ones. Of the 35,600 questioned, 61 per cent of mothers aged 35
or over said they drank while pregnant compared to 47 per cent of those aged under
20. Out of those who drank before they conceived, only a third said they gave
up alcohol altogether. The remaining twothirds said they continued drinking,
but cut down the amounts. The research highlights confusion over official
guidelines on the matter. The UK health watchdog, the National Institute
for Clinical Excellence, issued guidelines to pregnant women in March, saying
they should not drink at all during the first three months of pregnancy. NICE
experts said that after that period women should not drink more than two units
of alcohol a week - the equivalent of two small glasses of wine. However,
this came after guidance last year that said women should not drink any alcohol
at all during the entire pregnancy. Growing evidence has shown that children
born to mothers who drink can have serious health conditions. Damage to
the child increases with the amount of alcohol drunk and the timing during the
pregnancy. Foetal Alcohol Syndrome is the leading known cause of non-genetic
learning difficulties, certain abnormal facial characteristics and slow growth.
There is also an increase in the diagnoses of autism and attention deficit
disorders in children whose mothers have drunk while expecting. Susan Fleischer,
director of the National Organisation for Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, said older
women with careers had been calling their helpline after their children were diagnosed
with the disorder. She said many had a regular habit of drinking with male
colleagues and found it harder to stop while they were pregnant compared to younger
women. Miss Fleischer added: 'Not all women who drink during pregnancy
will harm their child, but the only way to be sure is not to drink at all.' A
survey by baby charity Tommy's in 2004 found a quarter of pregnant women drink
between two and five units of alcohol a week - double the recommended weekly limit.
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