How much alcohol can you REALLY drink while pregnant? The answer might surprise you…

MUMS-to-be are inundated with a wealth of information about what they should and shouldn’t do during pregnancy.

One of the most confusing – and controversial – topics is how much booze an expectant mother should consume.

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For some pregnant women the mere sniff of Pinot Grigio can send them running to the sick bucket, while others are left yearning for their Friday night tipple.

So what are the facts?

found that light drinking does not harm child behavioural or mental development.

For years, pregnant women have believed it is okay to neck no more than one to two units – a small glass of wine – once a week.

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However, new research advises child-bearing mums to abstain from booze completely.

for the UK recommend that if you’re pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all, to keep risks to your baby to a minimum.

says that drinking in pregnancy can cause the baby long-term harm, with the more you drink the greater the risk.

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When you drink, alcohol passes from your blood through the placenta and to your baby.

A baby's liver is one of the last organs to develop and doesn't mature until the latter stages of pregnancy.

Your baby cannot process alcohol as well as you can, and too much exposure to alcohol can seriously affect their development.

As well as increasing the risk of miscarriage, boozing with a bump can also increase the risk of premature birth, low birth-weight and a child developing learning difficulties.

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Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer for England, : “I want pregnant women to be very clear that they should avoid alcohol as a precaution.

“Although the risk of harm to the baby is low if they have drunk small amounts of alcohol before becoming aware of the pregnancy, there is no ‘safe’ level of alcohol to drink when you are pregnant.”

But advises women not to panic if they’ve been drinking above the government’s daily unit guidelines before finding out they are pregnant.

The trust advises talking to your GP or midwife if you have any concerns.