London - Pregnant women who binge drink could raise the risk of mental health problems in their children, research shows.
The study, conducted by the universities of Nottingham, Bristol, Oxford, Sheffield and Leicester, discovered problems with hyperactivity, attention deficit and poor exam results persisted at ages four, seven and 11.
The scientists defined a binge as four or more units of alcohol – two pints of beer or four small glasses of wine – consumed in a single day at least once during the pregnancy.
They monitored 4 000 women and then tracked their children periodically until the age of 11. One in four mothers reported binge drinking at least once during pregnancy.
Professor Kapil Sayal of Nottingham University, whose work is published in the journal European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, said: “Women who are pregnant or who are planning to be should be aware of the possible risks associated with heavier drinking during pregnancy, even if this only occurs occasionally.
“The study’s findings highlight the need for clear policy messages about patterns of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, whereby women who choose to drink occasionally should avoid having several drinks in a day.” - Daily Mail