'Light drinking' OK for mums-to-be

Mums-to-be who drink a glass of wine a week are not harming their unborn child, according to a study.

Researchers examined data on 12,495 three-year-olds, looking at the mothers' drinking patterns during pregnancy and assessments of the behaviour and mental skills of their children.

The experts at University College London (UCL) found that children born to mothers who drink lightly during pregnancy - as defined as 1-2 units per week or per occasion - are not at increased risk in these fields compared with children of mothers who do not drink.

Lead author Dr Yvonne Kelly, of UCL's epidemiology and public health department, said: "The link between heavy drinking during pregnancy and consequent poor behavioural and cognitive outcomes in children is well established.

"However, very few studies have considered whether light drinking in pregnancy is a risk for behavioural and cognitive problems in children.

"Our research has found that light drinking by pregnant mothers does not increase the risk of behavioural difficulties or cognitive deficits."

She added: "Indeed, for some behavioural and cognitive outcomes children born to light drinkers were less likely to have problems compared to children of abstinent mothers, although children born to heavy drinkers were more likely to have problems compared to children of mothers who drank nothing whilst pregnant."

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