All Policies Include Coronavirus Cover
Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30
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.
17 March 2020
Escape it all with a visit to one of the world's hidden island gems.
[more...]
02 July 2021
It's time for some Mediterranean sun and unforgettable sights. Here are five of our favourite must-sees in Malta.
Take your pick of the best beaches in Portugal, spanning more than 500 miles of the Portuguese coastline.
Holidays are back but not quite as we know them. Here's a quick guide to what to expect when travelling to and from green list countries.
28 February 2020
From tulip-filled trips to rose-tinged rests, these destinations are the perfect way to see in the new season.
04 January 2021
Join us on a journey to Ancient Greece to discover more about history's most revered statue.
Head north for a light show like no other. Discover how you can see the Northern Lights for yourself.
Discover more about the magnificent waterfall perched on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
10 December 2020
Don't sleep on the world's most impressive dormant volcano.
A destination that stands head and shoulders above the rest.
19 November 2020
Take a tour of one of South America's most captivating natural landscapes.
Discover the hidden depths of the world's most recognisable desert gorge.