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Light Alcohol Consumption During Early Pregnancy: The News Might Not Be So Bad

Women who consumed low levels of alcohol during the first trimester did not incur higher risk for behavioral problems in their children.

High levels of alcohol intake during pregnancy can have negative effects on fetal development and childhood behavior, but effects of low levels of alcohol intake are unknown. To better characterize these risks, researchers conducted a prospective cohort study of 2370 children born in Western Australia. Mothers were asked to categorize their drinking behavior during early pregnancy and in the third trimester. Child behavior instruments to measure internalizing (e.g., anxiety, depression) and externalizing (e.g., aggression) behaviors were administered from age 2 through 14 years.

Analysis adjusted for various maternal characteristics showed that, compared with children of women who abstained from alcohol consumption during pregnancy, children of women who reported light drinking during the first trimester (2–6 standard drinks, or 20–60 g absolute alcohol weekly) had better behavioral scores during the entire follow-up period. These better scores translated into a clinically meaningful lower prevalence of behavioral problems. Scores were poorer among the group whose mothers reported occasional drinking (1 drink weekly) during the third trimester (although the association was not significant).

Comment: These findings call into question concerns about light drinking during early pregnancy. Although the authors did not assess physical developmental outcomes, they observed lower risk for behavioral problems among children of women who reported light first-trimester drinking and suggest that this could be due to maternal stress reduction. However, they also acknowledge that women who are light drinkers are likely to differ from those who abstain in ways that could not be captured. Therefore, these results should be interpreted cautiously but could provide helpful evidence for counseling pregnant women about alcohol consumption.

— Allison Bryant, MD, MPH

Published in Journal Watch Women's Health August 19, 2010

Citation(s):

Robinson M et al. Low–moderate prenatal alcohol exposure and risk to child behavioural development: A prospective cohort study. BJOG 2010 Aug; 117:1139.

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• Light alcohol use during pregnancy
  Nell A Blair, 26 Aug 2010 11:37 AM EST
  This study was significantly flawed in the method of assessment of the children. Unfortunately the peer review system was lacking... [more]

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