UNBORN BABIES 'DAMAGED' BY DRINKING MUMS

GOVERNMENT advice that pregnant women are safe to drink up to four
units of alcohol a week could be damaging unborn children.

Tests on babies in the womb carried out by researchers at Queen's
University, Belfast have revealed that even drinking the equivalent of
four glasses of wine a week can affect development.

Experts have called on the Government to revise its advice to
mothers-to-be in the wake of the new evidence.

So-called "startle" tests were conducted on women 25 weeks into their
pregnancy by the researchers at Queen's.

At that stage, most unborn babies should literally be startled and
jump when a buzzer is activated on their mother's abdomen, indicating
healthy brain activity.

But the researchers found that even among women drinking four units of
alcohol a week, significantly fewer babies passed the startle test
than those whose mothers drank nothing at all.

Research fellow Dr Jennifer Little, who conducted the research, said:
"The results show that even low levels of alcohol may have an affect
on the central nervous system functioning.

"We don't want to concern women, but until we can absolutely say that
a certain level of alcohol will have no effect, I would urge
caution."The research is investigated in this evening's Tonight with
Trevor McDonald programme.

US women are advised not to drink at all during pregnancy but more
than two-thirds of British mothers-to-be do not totally give up.

The Royal College of Midwives had previously said up to eight units
was a safe limit.

A spokeswoman said: "The research is changing all the time and we do
not want to alarm women who have the occasional drink.

"Light drinking is not harmful but the only way to guarantee your baby
won't be affected is not to drink at all."Excessive alcohol abuse
during pregnancy can ultimately lead to Foetal Alcohol Syndrome.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: "This research was
limited to 120 babies. The overwhelming body of evidence suggests that
moderate drinking is not harmful, and most pregnant women drink below
the levels we advise."