Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
12 February 2015 09:57
The latest medical guidance on drinking alcohol during pregnancy advises women to avoid it entirely while trying for a baby and during the first three months after conception
Women should not drink any alcohol at all if they are trying for a baby or have already conceived and are in the first trimester of their pregnancy, according to new guidelines.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) had previously advised mums-to-be to restrict themselves to no more than two to four units of alcohol a week but it is now saying it is best to not drink any at all.
Women who are pregnant and intending to travel overseas can take out pregnancy travel insurance for added peace of mind.
What the guidance says
Research is yet to prove how much alcohol pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers can safely drink. The idea behind the new advice is that it is better to completely avoid the risk of alcohol harming a child by cutting it out altogether.
The guidance does say that drinking a small amount of alcohol after three months does not affect children. Women beyond the first trimester are advised to restrict drinking to no more than one to two units a couple of times a week.
RCOG says women are more likely to have a miscarriage if they drink alcohol when their baby is conceived and in the first three months afterwards.
Some of the alcohol can find its way through the placenta and into a baby's blood and affect how it develops inside the womb, particularly its brain, according to guidance.
What the RCOG experts say
Don't drink alcohol when you are trying for a baby is the advice RCOG Patient Information Committee chairwoman Philippa Marsden wants women to follow.
Ms Marsden says women can make a real difference to the health of their baby if they cut down on drinking or don't drink any alcohol at all while they are trying for a baby, pregnant or breastfeeding.
13 December 2018
Space tourism could move one giant leap closer this week as Virgin Galactic expects to reach "space altitudes" for the first time.
[more...]
12 December 2018
If you're worried about piling on the pounds this Christmas, regular home weighing could prevent you from excessive festive eating and drinking.
11 December 2018
Airlines that automatically cancel return flights when passengers fail to show for their outbound journeys are being warned they risk breaking consumer law.
08 December 2018
Providing better conditions for disabled passengers is one of the main aims of a proposed new charter for airlines and airports.
07 December 2018
Women who don't attend cervical screenings should be offered testing kits they can use at home, new research suggests.
06 December 2018
Ryanair could be slapped with enforcement action from the airline regulator after it refused compensation for passengers hit by flight disruption caused by staff taking strike action.
05 December 2018
Protein supplements and muscle training could be the most effective ways to delay or reverse the effects of frailty, a new study suggests.
04 December 2018
Mumford and Sons bassist Ted Dwane has helped create a new exhibition to raise awareness of the loneliness felt by people living with multiple sclerosis (MS).
01 December 2018
A leading charity has praised the actions of Lloyd Russell-Moyle, saying the Labour MP had "done everybody a service" by disclosing his HIV status.
30 November 2018
Sweating out the daily stresses in a sauna could be linked to a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in people aged 50 and over, according to a new study.
29 November 2018
Hitting the Copacabana could soon become a more realistic aim for holidaymakers, with Norwegian set to become the first budget airline to operate UK-Brazil flights.
28 November 2018
Holidaymakers on the UK's proposed new high-speed trainline could have their Amazon packages delivered directly to their seat, according to a train manufacturer.