All Policies Include Coronavirus Cover
Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30
19 February 2014 21:24
Ill advised: new research offers a further reason why pregnancy and drinking alcohol should not be mixed
Drinking even moderately is bad for a pregnant woman's placenta, according to a new study.
The placenta supplies everything that a developing infant needs until birth.
But scientists have found that women who drink alcohol at moderate or heavy rates during the early part of their pregnancy might harm the growth and function of this organ.
University of Manchester researchers examined placentas in laboratory conditions.
They found that drinking alcohol at moderate (2/3 standard drinks) to high (4-6 standard drinks) levels lowered the cell growth in a woman's placenta.
But women who are 0-28 weeks' pregnant need not totally put their life on hold just because they are carrying. They can enjoy a holiday with peace of mind by taking out pregnancy travel insurance, which offers medical expenses cover for pregnancy and childbirth during this timespan.
The research looked at the effect of alcohol and its major toxic breakdown product, acetaldehyde, on the placenta in the opening few weeks of pregnancy.
This is a timespan key for normal development where three primary germ cell layers in the very early infant develop into internal organs.
While placental cell development was lessened at mid and heavy drinking rates, the cells that ensure the placenta fastens to the mother were unaffected.
Alcohol at extremely low concentrations (1-2 units, the equivalent to half or one standard drink) had no effect on growth or function.
Researchers also showed alcohol at moderate to high levels reduced the delivery of taurine, a vital amino acid, from mother to baby through the placenta.
Taurine is important for brain and physiological development.
But acetaldehyde had no effect on the delivery of taurine, suggesting that alcohol is the key culprit.
Reduced taurine has been found to have a negative impact on behaviour and physical development.
This may explain why some neurological symptoms are found in children of alcoholic mothers, the researchers claimed.
The British Medical Association-funded study is published in the PLoS One journal.
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.