Alcohol use in pregnancy: inadequate recommendations for an increasing problem

Light drinking in pregnancy, a risk for behavioural problems and cognitive deficits at 3 years of age?

“…27,28 Our results are consistent with other studies that did not show increased risks of behavioural and developmental problems in children born to mothers who drank low levels of alcohol. 11,15,16,18,19,23 Despite the scarcity of evidence linking light drinking during pregnancy with harmful effects for the developing fetus, 2,3,11,23 some commentators suggest that abstinence is the only safe message 6,7 as it is not clear whether certain mother-infant pairs are somehow more susceptible to the effects of alcohol because of genetic or metabolic characteristics. 43 A small study suggested fetal and newborn reflexes were affected by alcohol exposure in pregnancy, 46 but the significance of these findings for consequent behaviour and development are not clear.…”

“…A recent systematic review carried out by the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU), 2 and a statement from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) 3 highlighted the need for studies focusing on the effects of light drinking, and for investigators to use prospective population based data. In light of this debate, questions arise as to whether the current push for policy to recommend complete abstinence during pregnancy 6,7 is merited. Clinically relevant aspects of child behaviour and development that have previously been linked to mothers' drinking during pregnancy include externalizing behaviours, such as conduct problems and hyperactivity, [8][9][10][11][12][13][14] and cognitive deficits [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] and imaging studies have reported associated structural changes in the brain.…”

Maternal Alcohol Intake and Offspring Pulse Wave Velocity

“…Weight in light clothing was measured using Heine Portable Professional Adult Scales that were calibrated daily using known weights. Child BMI was calculated as weight in kg divided by height in metres [2] .…”

“…There is increasing concern that exposure to even low levels of alcohol may harm the developing fetus [2,3] .…”

“No Alcohol Is Recommended, But . . .”: Health Care Students’ Attitudes About Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy

“…While overall research findings have suggested that there is no strong evidence implicating low levels of prenatal alcohol exposure with fetal harm (O'Leary & Bower, 2012), recent studies have demonstrated an increased risk (e.g., adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.24 of increased anxiety/depression; higher risks for mental health problems, particularly hyperactivity and inattention) of neurodevelopmental challenges (O'Leary et al, 2010;Sayal et al, 2009) and preterm birth (O'Leary, Nassar, Kurinczuk, & Bower, 2009) following in utero exposure to lower doses of alcohol. However, it is essential to note that a lack of clear evidence does not equate to a confirmation of safety (K. L. Jones, Chambers, Hill, Hull, & Riley, 2006) and the sensitivity of the fetus to alcohol may vary depending on a number of factors including the dose, pattern, and timing of exposure, making it impossible to estimate the overall risk of any potential effect. This critical point needs to be reiterated to health care students in training and practicing health professionals.…”