Is Light Drinking During Pregnancy Safe?

Study: Pregnant Women's Light Drinking Doesn't Harm Baby

Pregnant women have long been warned to avoid alcohol, but new research suggests having one or two drinks a week doesn't raise the risk of developmental problems in children. Babies born to light drinkers—or those who had a glass of wine, 1.7 ounces of spirits, or about 16 ounces of beer a week—had no added risk of emotional or behavioral problems, according to a study published Tuesday in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. In fact, boys whose mothers were light drinkers scored higher on cognitive tests than those whose mothers abstained. The study authors say this doesn't mean pregnant women should begin drinking, and the American Pregnancy Association maintains that there is no safe amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. "There is a risk that if pregnant women take this research as a green light to drink a small amount, they could become complacent, drink more than they think they are and inadvertently cause harm to their unborn child," Chris Sorek, the chief executive of alcohol awareness charity Drinkaware, told BBC News. Researchers tracked the health of more than 11,000 children, asking their mothers about drinking habits during pregnancy, and then following up on their behavior and cognitive abilities at ages 3 and 5. Though light drinking led to no harmful consequences, children whose mothers imbibed at least seven drinks a week—or more than six at one time—were more likely to be hyperactive and show signs of developmental disorders.

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