New research: alcohol and pregnancy
Light drinking during pregnancy does not harm a young child's behavioural or intellectual development, according to new research led by Dr Yvonne Kelly (UCL Epidemiology & Public Health) and published online today in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. A previous study in 2008 by Dr Kelly and colleagues of 3 year olds drew similar conclusions, but the authors wanted to rule out possible delayed 'sleeper' effects in older children. They used data from the Millennium Cohort Study - a large study tracking the long term health of children born in the UK - drawing on a representative sample of 11,513 children born between September 2000 and January 2002. Participants? mothers were interviewed in person about their drinking patterns while pregnant and other social and economic factors likely to have an impact on a child's development, when their children were aged just 9 months. There are no widely agreed criteria on how to categorise patterns of alcohol consumption, but the authors chose those outlined in the government's National Alcohol Strategy. The mothers were classified as teetotal; those who drank but not in pregnancy; light (1 or 2 units a week or at any one time); moderate (3 to 6 units a week or 3 to 5 at any one time); and binge/heavy (7 or more units a week or 6 at one sitting). The mums were quizzed about their children's behaviour at the age of 3, and then their behavioural and intellectual development were formally assessed at the age of 5.
