Pregnant women are advised to stop drinking alcohol entirely

Official advice on alcohol consumption for pregnant women seems to change every year. Not so long ago women were advised that a glass of wine a day was not a problem, then the advice changed to say that drinking during the first three months was not recommended, as no-one really knew what effect alcohol may have on the developing foetus. The latest research now says that alcohol consumption should cease completely. "Women who are pregnant or trying for a baby should give up all alcohol, the Public Health Minister suggested yesterday. Dawn Primarolo said the best way to end confusion could be to adopt the approach taken in the U.S. and tell expectant mothers to avoid drinking altogether. She told the Commons Health Select Committee: "Maybe we should go to a precautionary principle with recommendations to women who are pregnant or trying to conceive - which the Americans do - which is to just say, Don't." Some doctors say there is evidence that even very small amounts of alcohol can damage the health of the unborn child. Dangers include foetal alcohol syndrome, which affects around 100 babies a year, causing low birth weight, flattened features, heart and kidney abnormalities, deafness and brain damage. In addition, as many as 7,000 British babies a year are affected by the less serious foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, which causes attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity and poor co-ordination." We at Motley Health have always stuck by the rule of no alcohol while pregnant, and will be glad when government guidelines follow suit and make it clear that any amount of alcohol could potentially harm an unborn child. For those that always like a drink, just ask yourself, how would you feel if you gave birth to a child with learning difficulties, and later found out it was because of one glass of wine too many while you were pregnant. Is one drink worth the risk? We do not think so. Celebrate after you have given birth to a health baby by all means, but while carrying your child, do all that you can to keep healthy. To some extent everything that you consume is passed on to your baby, so make sure you only consume healthy food and drinks. Source: Daily Mail