Light Drinking during Pregnancy may Increase Risk of Premature Birth

Though most women are aware of the dangers of heavy drinking during pregnancy, a recent study shows how levels of alcohol consumed in the first trimester can greatly increase the risk of a premature birth.

Findings show that low levels of drinking may cause such issues to increase, as the alcohol goes to the placenta and can equal concentrations that are similar in both the mother and the fetus, according to Medical News Today.

For the study, researchers examined 1,200 women in Leeds who filled out food frequency questionnaires. At the end of the study, they found that women who drank alcohol during their first trimester were much more likely to have a premature baby.

"The findings suggest that even small amounts of alcohol in the first three months of pregnancy may increase the risk of a small impairment to the baby's growth and possibly premature birth," said Patrick O'Brien, spokesman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG), via The Telegraph. "This is consistent with the RCOG advice that if a woman falls pregnant she should abstain from alcohol during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy because this is a particularly sensitive time for the baby's development."

As diet can greatly impact the mother and child's overall health during pregnancy, this study emphasizes one of the risks that comes with alcohol consumption.

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More information regarding the study can be found via the BMJ's journal Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.