Pregnant women who drink four glasses of wine in one sitting can damage their unborn child’s mental health, scientists have warned.

Researchers found binge drinking during pregnancy can increase the risk of mental health problems in 11-year-olds, particularly hyperactivity and inattention.

The study showed it can also lead to children achieving lower exam results at school.

This was the case even when other factors were taken into account - such as the mother’s age, her education, her mental health, whether she smoked tobacco, or used cannabis or other drugs during the pregnancy and how many other children she had.

Binge drinking was defined as drinking four or more units of alcohol in a day- the equivalent of two pints of beer, four single gin and tonics or four small glasses of wine.

A quarter of mothers reported binge drinking at least once during pregnancy and more than half of these women said they had done so once or twice in the month prior to being asked.

The majority who reported they had binged on alcohol on at least one occasion when asked at 18 weeks, had done so again when asked at 32 weeks.

Researchers said this suggests that the pattern might have persisted during the rest of the pregnancy, although they could not know that for sure.

The report’s lead author, Professor Kapil Sayal, from the University of Nottingham, said: 'Women who are pregnant or who are planning to become pregnant should be aware of the possible risks associated with episodes of heavier drinking during pregnancy, even if this only occurs on an occasional basis.

'The consumption of four or more drinks in a day may increase the risk for hyperactivity and inattention problems and lower academic attainment even if daily average levels of alcohol consumption during pregnancy are low.

'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.'

However, he added that the information was collected 20 years ago when the drinking culture was different.

He said: 'The information was collected in 1991-1992 when attitudes towards drinking in pregnancy may have been different in the UK. As this was over 20 years ago, this may not necessarily reflect the current picture.'

The research examined data from more than 4,000 participants in the ‘Children of the 90s’ study at the University of Bristol, and was carried out by a team from Nottingham, Bristol, Leicester, Oxford, Sheffield and Queensland Australia.

Previous research on the same children that found a link between binge drinking in pregnancy and their mental health when aged four and seven, suggesting that problems can persist as a child gets older.

Other effects, such as the impact on school results, may only become obvious later in a child’s life.

At age 11, parents and teachers completed questionnaires about the children’s mental health.

Information about academic performance, on almost 7,000 participants, was based on the results of the Key Stage 2 examinations taken in the final year at primary school.

These exams assess a child’s ability in English, mathematics and science.

On average, scores were about one point lower in the Key Stage 2 examinations.

The researchers wanted to look specifically at the effects of binge drinking in one sitting in pregnancy, not women who drink regularly during pregnancy, so they separated out the two groups.

Binge pattern drinking when the child was aged five was not associated with negative effects on mental health and school results at age 11, suggesting that the risks of being exposed to alcohol occur while the child is in the womb.

Written By Madlen Davies

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