Abstain from alcohol in early pregnancy, says updated advice
Guidance on drinking during pregnancy revised from two units once or twice a week to no alcohol at all in first trimester.
Women trying to have a baby and those in the first first three months of pregnancy are advised to avoid alcohol altogether under updated advice from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
The college previously said mothers-to-be should not drink more than two units once or twice a week – a small glass of wine of 125ml is 1.5 units. There is no proven safe amount of alcohol that women can drink during pregnancy, the college said.
The only way to be certain that the baby is not harmed by alcohol is not to drink at all during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, although small amounts of alcohol after the first trimester do not appear to be harmful, the college said.
They suggest that during early pregnancy, the safest approach is to abstain from alcohol and after the first trimester keep within the recommended amounts if you do decide to have an alcohol drink.
maternity & infant
Originally posted 2015-02-11 12:35:31.