Alcohol abuse 'leads to preterm delivery'

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by Change | 21 Jan 2009

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Engaging in heavy drinking before the second trimester can increase the chance of pregnant women having a premature delivery, new research shows.

Binge drinking can lead to a higher chance of delivering preterm for pregnant women, even if mothers stop before the second trimester, emphasising the importance of visiting an alcohol addiction treatment clinic for those with a problem.

Results from the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology show a relationship between prenatal exposure to alcohol and premature birth.

Women who engaged in alcohol abuse but stopped at the 13th week were 2.3 times more likely to have a preterm delivery than those who give up alcohol from conception or maintained a low intake.

Colleen O'Leary, an institute researcher, calls on health professionals to routinely screen women who are pregnant and refer them to rehab clinics if their habits present a risk to the child.

She comments: "If pregnant women cannot stop or reduce their drinking, they should seek medical advice."

In other news, a recent study published in scientific journal Behavioural and Brain Functions suggests children whose mothers drank during pregnancy have a higher risk of developing their own alcohol addiction.

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