Alcohol consumption is one of many articles on a historic list of "things not to do" for pregnancy, but a new study challenges that assumption. Researchers from the University of London found that if a mother consumes the occasional glass of alcohol in the early stages of pregnancy, there is little or no effect on the mental development of a child.
The study was presented at BJOG, International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Professor Yvonne Kelly and his team of researchers tested the capacity of more than 10 000 children across the UK, which sometimes drank mothers during pregnancy or abstained completely.
According to Kelly, 57 percent of study participants abstained drink at all, while 23 percent were classified as light drinkers - as they enjoy a pint or a single glass serving spirits once a week. The team remained in contact with the mothers after giving birth, asking parents to assess their child's development in nine months, and again at seven. After comparing the skills of behavior and educational development of children, the researchers found few differences.
"We know heavy drinking during pregnancy has a harmful effect, but it is highly unlikely that consumption of small amounts will have an impact," said Professor Kelly. "It does not seem biologically plausible that small amounts of alcohol would affect the development anyway. "
Despite the results of the study, any abstention is always the safest option. the exact level alcohol causes the behavior and adverse birth defects is still unknown, and Kelly advises mothers to avoid drinking alcohol as much as possible -. but should not be too worried if they consume very small portions