Yet another article to make us feel guilty/worried about a few drinks in pregnancy?

[Tinker]

Just a few drinks in pregnancy could harm baby
Published: 15 August 2005
Mothers who drink even low levels of alcohol during pregnancy could permanently damage their children's intelligence, research suggests.

The study of seven-and-a-half-year-olds by scientists in Detroit found lower IQ scores, and memory and problem-solving difficulties among those who had had low-level exposure to alcohol during pregnancy.

The research, which the Department of Health says it wants to consider, appears to challenge current British Government advice that pregnant women can safely consume one to two units of alcohol a week.

It has long been established that serious problems such as severe learning difficulties and physical abnormalities can occur when women drink large amounts of alcohol during pregnancy, leading to foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).

Now American scientists say more research is needed to look at the damage caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol at lower levels.

Julie Croxford, from Wayne State University in Detroit, said: "In the past, much focus was placed on studying full-blown FAS. More recent research has considered those individuals damaged by lower levels of exposure. This is an important focus."

The study, published in the journal, Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, looked at 337 African-American children who were exposed to moderate to heavy levels of alcohol in the womb.

It found they were able to perform memory, number and other tasks as well as other youngsters when these tasks were simple, such as naming colours.

But when the children were pressed to respond quickly while having to think about the response, their processing speed slowed down significantly.

Researcher Matthew Burden, from Wayne State University, said: "Prenatal alcohol exposure is often associated with slower reaction times and poorer attention in infancy and some of these deficits may be at the core of poorer academic performance and behaviour problems often seen later in childhood.

"In cases of FAS, lower IQ scores are common, often reaching the level of retardation. This is because alcohol consumed by the mother has a direct impact on the brain of the foetus.

"However, full FAS is not required to see this impact ­ it is just less obvious to detect across the array of exposures found in foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), which include effects of prenatal alcohol at lower drinking levels."

Ms Croxford said: "This is likely to mean that these children may be more and more challenged the older they get by the demands placed on them within the school system and within their day-to-day social interactions. This reinforces the current public health message that women should not drink alcohol during pregnancy."

It is estimated that one baby in every 3,000 suffers from the full effects of FAS, ­ others are struck with milder forms of symptoms.

Campaigners in the UK have said that the only definitely safe level of alcohol during pregnancy is no alcohol at all, saying that recommended limits are too high.

The Department of Health said: "Current DoH advice is that women who are pregnant or who are trying to get pregnant should not drink more than 1-2 units of alcohol per week.

"This guidance was reviewed as part of the Government's Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy in March last year and was found to be safe."

"We would be interested to see any further research into this area but current evidence does not justify changing our advice."

The research echoes warnings from British scientists in the past year.

Mothers who drink even low levels of alcohol during pregnancy could permanently damage their children's intelligence, research suggests.

The study of seven-and-a-half-year-olds by scientists in Detroit found lower IQ scores, and memory and problem-solving difficulties among those who had had low-level exposure to alcohol during pregnancy.

The research, which the Department of Health says it wants to consider, appears to challenge current British Government advice that pregnant women can safely consume one to two units of alcohol a week.

It has long been established that serious problems such as severe learning difficulties and physical abnormalities can occur when women drink large amounts of alcohol during pregnancy, leading to foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).

Now American scientists say more research is needed to look at the damage caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol at lower levels.

Julie Croxford, from Wayne State University in Detroit, said: "In the past, much focus was placed on studying full-blown FAS. More recent research has considered those individuals damaged by lower levels of exposure. This is an important focus."

The study, published in the journal, Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, looked at 337 African-American children who were exposed to moderate to heavy levels of alcohol in the womb.

It found they were able to perform memory, number and other tasks as well as other youngsters when these tasks were simple, such as naming colours.

But when the children were pressed to respond quickly while having to think about the response, their processing speed slowed down significantly.

Researcher Matthew Burden, from Wayne State University, said: "Prenatal alcohol exposure is often associated with slower reaction times and poorer attention in infancy and some of these deficits may be at the core of poorer academic performance and behaviour problems often seen later in childhood.
"In cases of FAS, lower IQ scores are common, often reaching the level of retardation. This is because alcohol consumed by the mother has a direct impact on the brain of the foetus.

"However, full FAS is not required to see this impact ­ it is just less obvious to detect across the array of exposures found in foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), which include effects of prenatal alcohol at lower drinking levels."

Ms Croxford said: "This is likely to mean that these children may be more and more challenged the older they get by the demands placed on them within the school system and within their day-to-day social interactions. This reinforces the current public health message that women should not drink alcohol during pregnancy."

It is estimated that one baby in every 3,000 suffers from the full effects of FAS, ­ others are struck with milder forms of symptoms.

Campaigners in the UK have said that the only definitely safe level of alcohol during pregnancy is no alcohol at all, saying that recommended limits are too high.

The Department of Health said: "Current DoH advice is that women who are pregnant or who are trying to get pregnant should not drink more than 1-2 units of alcohol per week.

"This guidance was reviewed as part of the Government's Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy in March last year and was found to be safe."

"We would be interested to see any further research into this area but current evidence does not justify changing our advice."

The research echoes warnings from British scientists in the past year.

Hmm not sure. There is no evidence to show that True low levels of consumption have any effect. No-one in France would be normal otherwise!

I think there must come a point where the risks are so low that the over all effect is no greater than other everyday 'risks' such as living in a city. And raising stress levels is not a risk free action of itself.

It is, to my mind, like extrapolating that because some people obviously cannot tolerate alcohol and become alcholics ( a real medical condition) we all might, and so moderation good, avoidance better?

I think that we need to have a healthy a ballenced understanding of relative risk. While some risks are obviously not worth taking, others are minimal. And I don't mean this in a 'my levels are right all must be like me' sort of a way. As a society we are very poor at judging risk and becomeing worse. And this behaviour has its own problems

I was shot down on another thread for saying you shouldnt drink whilst pg..where were you all then?!!!!

I will listen and adhere to any surveys in the future that can guarantee that the women who took part in the study lived in a sterile bubble for 9 months with half drinking 1/2 units of alcohol per week and the other half not.

Alcohol should be the ONLY dodgy part of their diet/lifestyles. Oh and I also want to see that they come from identical socio-economic backgrounds with identical upbringings and education.

Anything else? Oh yes, their husbands/partners lived in similar bubbles being fed identical unpolluted food before conception to make sure their sperm was all perfect.

And then I'll wait 8 years after the births to make sure all the children lived in said bubbles with no influences from the air or environment around them before they took their IQ tests.

THEN I'll believe that this is a totally convincing study.

well said, Moomin. another trolley of crap from a poorly-performing US uni.

I'd rather err on the side of caution and not bother to drink. Afterall is not drinking when pregnant really such a big deal?

Just to reiterate, the study does say the participants were 'moderate to heavy' drinkers. THis to me, does not sound like 'just a few drinks in pregnancy." Of course a bottle of vodka a day is a totally different thing to one or two glasses of wine a week.

I have the odd glass or two of wine in both pregnancies. I don't drink every week only on special occasions (like my 30th birthday this weekend and then only 2 glasses of wine).

When are they going to do a survey about how much harm pregnant women inflict on their children by eating whole bags of Haribo every week for the duration of their pg (like one of my friends did!) or gallons of fat coke (like another mate) or ones who travel and work in central london/b'ham/m'chster breathing in all the fumes day in day out?

I'm all for healthy pregnancies and if you wish to abstain for the duration and this will make you less guilty=stressed then all well and good. But on the other hand, as long as you're not a complete idiot and you know the difference between moderation and excess, then the occasional glass of red wine is not going to condemn your future child to a life in and out of reform centres.
I've had a pretty stressful pregnancy what with one thing and another and being able to sit down every so often with dh enjoying a lovely glass of chilean merlot has been one of the few simple pleasures we've had for the past 8 months!
The US is absolutely paranoid about pg women & alcohol.

"Is not drinking when pregnant really such a big deal"?

GO, for you it obviously isn't. But I dislike the way the question is phrased, because what is the correct answer? If the answer is "no" as you suggest, all well and good. If the answer is "yes", then the implication is that the person answering the question must have some kind of drink problem, because it's such a big deal not to drink in pregnancy.

It's all about tone isn't it. And so often, the tone when debating this issue, is judgemental, accusatory, self-rightous and hysterical about women who do drink a not particularly significant amount during pregnancy (I'm not saying your question is, btw!!). That's why I think whenever reports like this are released, they're greeted with a general weary sigh by those of us who believe that this deliberate mis-reporting is another weapon with which to beat women.

Message withdrawn

I've had the odd glass of wine in the second trimester and beyond. Just really didn't fancy it before that. Now it is nice and relaxing with a meal occasionally. I really don't see it as a threat to baby - imagine how many babies are conceived under the influence and how many people drink (and worse) in early pregnancy.

Have checked this study out in a bit more detail. It did not examine low levels of alcohol use. The cohort of children studied had mothers who reported that they drank more than 0.5 oz of pure alcohol per day - about one and a half units of alcohol a day, far in excess of UK guidelines for pregnancy. UK guidelines 2 units per week. 1 1/2 units per day = 3 small glasses of wine, IIRC. Not many people drink that much throughout pregnancy, I'd guess? Plus people tend to minimise 'bad' behaviour such as as drinking and smoking when doctors and nurses ask them about it, so women who volunteered 1 1/2 units per day were probably drinking more than that.

I agree, Pruni.

Message withdrawn

I drank a glass or two most days in both pregnancies, I will freely admit.

Exactly, Pruni, not to mention the fact that people actually mind their own business here. A satisfying bonus.

I was a pack a day smoker when I moved here as well - slotted right in like a key in a lock .

Just to reassure MI, they tested the children once at age 7.5, using a range of neuropsychological tests. They only found an adverse effect on one type of function. Could have been a one-off; if you test them when they are 7.6 or any other age you may not be able to see a difference.

However, it does say the adverse effect was exacerbated when the mother was over 30... sorry!

Thank you, dearest. Hic.

Expat....and all those wonderful sweetie shops! Sigh, I miss them!

Never was big on sweets, HMB, can't say I miss 'em. Prolly a good thing. Excepting pregnancy, I've always weighed around 9st, and need to keep it that way as have had 4 major surgeries on my knee joints.

Thanks for the update edam. If I had my time to do over again I would drink less than I did... but even at the most I never drank more than about half of their minimum threshold.

I think all research should be taken with a pinch of salt, most research is flawed, or biased in some way to yield the results expected, or to yield the results wanted by who ever is funding it!
In this particular case I think it is unrealistic that they have gotton rid of all the other variables that could account for the lack of attention etc. For example, a mother that ADMITS to drinking moderately to heavily during pregnancy may also be less likely to read to the child or encourage its development after its born. This is hard to ascertian from the article. Also there is no information as to the social background these women came from which Im sure will also impact on concentration and development.
I personally think as long as your sensible then have a drink during pregnancy if you need one. Maybe just stay within guidelines and drink with food. After all it doesn't seem to of caused too many problems for past generations. My grandmother drank (medicinal!) Guiness through all her pregnancies and delivered 6 intellegent children!
All this research designed to question our common sense is probably far more detrimental and likely to drive us to drink by the end of the 9 months anyway!

I think we also need to remember that the greatest damage done by alcohol is done in the first tremester. And many women don't find out they're pregant until half way through that, and so have carried on drinking as normal until they're about 8 weeks pregnant. By which time, the nervous system etc. is well on its way to being developed, so it's probably all too late anyway.

Oh well, never mind, have another drink...

but your children are gorgeous MI. Beautiful and clever.

The problem with all reaserch (and I've done a fair bit) is that it is often taken out of context and misquoted. In addition people fail to take into account the degree to while confounding variables have been controled, as Mrow said, mother who admit to moderate drinking may be less likely to stimulate their children than those who don't.

Unless you read the whole paper it is very hard to get a good idea of just how well controled the study has been. I would also be interested to see just how many people were in the study and the level of statistical significance they reported.