Babies Worldwide

The Australian Office for National Statistics has revealed that over 30 per cent of pregnant women drink despite being aware of the health risks they run both for themselves and their babies. Recent research showed that those who drink excessively during pregnancy are more likely to give birth prematurely that those who do not drink, or drink within moderation.

Over a two year period the Western Australian ‘Telethon Institute for Child Health Research,’ carried out research on over 4,700 women and found that almost ten percent of women who drank heavily gave birth prematurely. At the other end of the scale fewer than six percent of women who gave up drink completely during their pregnancy experienced premature births

Researchers found that even if mothers-to-be stopped drinking in early pregnancy, they were up to three times more likely to have a premature birth, perhaps as the result of the effect on metabolic processes early on.

Colleen O’Leary, an institute researcher, said: “The risk of preterm birth is highest for pregnant women who drink heavily or at binge levels, meaning drinking more than seven standard drinks per week, or more than five drinks on any one occasion.”

The study also found that women who smoke are also less likely to give up drinking during their pregnancy.

Tags: drink and pregnancy

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