Moderate alcohol consumption during pregnancy and child development.

On the basis of prospectively collected data from 7,525 pregnancies it was examined whether moderate but daily alcohol consumption during pregnancy has consequences for child development during the first 3 years. The women were taken into the study during the first trimester of pregnancy and were seen every 4 weeks. Some 4.7% (353) of the total stated that they drank moderate quantities of alcohol every day; 275 of the 353 pregnant women stopped drinking during the first trimester of pregnancy or for a time, but 78 did not change their drinking habits in general. About 75% of the children were followed up to their 3rd birthday with examinations at birth, 6 weeks, and 9, 18 and 36 months. It was found that in growth and psychomotor development the exposed children did not differ from the control group. The number of minor and major congenital anomalies was not increased. In general, moderate alcohol consumption during pregnancy does not seem to have any markedly adverse influence on the later development of children. However, an upper limit for apparently safe alcohol consumption cannot be given.