Binge drinking increases risk of early birth

Pregnant women who binge drink have an increased risk of giving birth early, research claims.

A report published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology today found the incidence of preterm birth was highest amongst women who binged or drank heavily during pregnancy.

A random sample of 4,700 women who gave birth in Western Australia between 1995 and 1997 found even if mothers stopped drinking prior to the second trimester of pregnancy they had an increased chance of early birth.

There was also a 2.3-fold increased chance of preterm birth – delivery before 37 weeks of pregnancy – in women who drank heavily in early pregnancy but then stopped after taking into account maternal smoking, drug use, socioeconomic status and maternal health.

Today’s survey found over one quarter of women who drank in late pregnancy also smoked, compared with 19 per cent of women who had abstained from alcohol during pregnancy.

Colleen O’Leary, one of the lead author’s of the study, said: “Pregnant women who drink more than one to two standard drinks per occasion and more than six standard drinks per week increase their risk of having a premature baby, even if they stop drinking before the second trimester.”