According to the results of a study conducted by University College, London, a glass of wine a week during pregnancy might not harm the baby’s intellectual, emotional or physical development.
Earlier studies have proved that excessive consumption of alcohol can cause fetal alcohol syndrome. This syndrome encompasses a wide range of deficits starting from severe mental retardation to mild symptoms of emotional disturbances and lower IQ.
Government officials say that since it is difficult to pinpoint the exact amount of alcohol that might cause damage to the fetus, it is better to avoid alcohol completely.
University College, London studied over 11,000 women in relation to their drinking pattern and behavior of their children till the age of five. The study suggested that light drinkers were less likely to have children with social or emotional difficulties than women who abstained from alcohol completely. However, the lead author of the study said that this finding was not significant once the social factors of the family were taken into account. Overall, this study only suggested that there was no harm or benefit from drinking very small amount of alcohol during pregnancy.
Also important to the health of the baby is the healthy eating habits of the mother immediately before conception and during the period of pregnancy. A healthy diet including more fresh fruits, vegetables and fish in the diet of the expectant mother went a long way in improving the health of the child.
Some critics from the National Organization For Fetal Alcohol Syndrome suggested that the study was not applicable as the study covered only children till the age of five, whereas many of the deficits become apparent only by the age of seven.
