What’s foetal alcohol syndrome, how much alcohol can you drink while pregnant and how many are units are safe?
There has long been a debate on whether expectant mums can enjoy their favourite tipple
THERE'S long been a debate on whether expectant mums can enjoy a couple of drinks while pregnant or should stay completely teetotal.
Here's everything we know about the guidelines on drinking alcohol during pregnancy...
How much alcohol can you drink while pregnant?
Despite research, experts are still unsure how much alcohol - if any - is safe to drink while pregnant.
Some say that after discovering you are expecting a baby, you should totally abstain from drinking any kind of booze.
The UK's chief medical officer recommends the safest approach for expectant mums is to avoid it altogether throughout the pregnancy.
This is because alcohol can pose risks to the unborn baby including learning difficulties and behavioural problems.
However, others say that women can enjoy a small tipple when expecting - saying there is no evidence that a small amount of booze can cause problems.
One expert, Dr Ellie Lee said: “Official advice about drinking in pregnancy has gone down an overtly precautionary route."
But pregnant women who enjoy the occasional tipple are unlikely to harm their babies, say researchers.
The evidence proving light drinking was dangerous was “surprisingly limited”, they concluded.
How many units of alcohol are safe to drink?
As there is no clear advice on whether pregnant women can drink, there is no established safe limit on the amount of units they can consume.
There had been research to suggest that there is no evidence of harm from drinking a maximum of one to two units of alcohol once or twice a week.
But, again, the NHS says the safest approach is to avoid alcohol while pregnant.
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What is foetal alcohol syndrome?
Foetal alcohol syndrome is caused by alcohol passing through an expectant mum's blood through the placenta to her baby.
As the unborn child cannot process the alcohol, it can cause damage to the brain, spinal cord, and disrupt their growth.
The NHS says some characteristics include a smaller than average head and lower birth weight than their peers.
Poor growth is also a factor as they get older, and they’re often shorter than the average adult.
Children with FAS often has distinctive facial features.
The describes it as: “Small eyes, a thin upper lip, and a smooth area between the nose and upper lip, though these may become less noticeable with age.”
They may also have attention or behaviour disorders, such as ADHD or autism, as well as learning difficulties.
It can cause a range of problems, including:
- heart defects
- liver problems
- ADHD
- vision impairment
- sleep problems
- a poor immune system
- behavioural problems
- speech and language delays