Rules on drinking when pregnant revised

Women trying for a baby or in the first three months of pregnancy should abstain from alcohol entirely, updated UK health guidelines state.

Previously the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) agreed with the NHS that pregnant women should not drink more than one or two units of alcohol (equivalent to one small glass of wine), once or twice a week.

Now the RCOG has revised its recommendations stating that abstinence is the only way to be certain that the baby is not harmed, with the previous guidelines only  applicable after the first three months of pregnancy.

The RCOG said that around the time of conception and the first three months of pregnancy are the most risky times to consume alcohol, increasing the chances of miscarriage. After this time, women should not drink more than one to two units, more than once or twice a week, according to the RCOG.

Philippa Marsden, of the RCOG, 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. If you have any questions or concerns about alcohol consumption talk to your midwife, GP or health visitor who can offer support and advice.”

There is currently no evidence to suggest that very small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy is harmful with Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, keen to prevent the new guidelines causing undue anxiety among pregnant women.

She said: “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.”

Earlier this year the Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Network (FASD) called for clearer guidelines on alcohol for pregnant women having branded the message given by health professionals to be “mixed”.

Maria Catterick, FASD Network’s founder, said: “We are told that alcohol is a poison on the one hand, but on the other hand we are told that maybe it’s OK to drink one or two units.”

About 6,000 babies a year in the UK are born with some form of damage as a direct result of alcohol.