IRC-Galleria

A University College London study indicated that light drinking is not necessarily bad for pregnant women. The offspring of women who drank lightly while on the family way turned out to have better test scores and lesser behavioral problems.

The study defined light drinking as limited to up to two drinks a week. It covered 12,500 three-year olds who were children of women who drank lightly or abstained while pregnant.

According to the study, 40 percent of boys born to the women who had up to two drinks a week while infanticipating were less likely to have behavior problems and 30 percent less hyperactive. Among girls, 30 percent had lesser chances to acquire emotional and peer problems among the children of light drinker mothers.

The study made allowance for social backgrounds of the mothers and children, but Dr. Yvonne Kelly, the lead researcher, told Guardian Unlimited, "The reasons behind these findings might in part be because light drinkers tend to be more socially advantaged than abstainers, rather than being due to the physical benefits of low-level alcohol consumption."

She added light drinking mothers also tend to be more relaxed, which contributed to improved behavioral and cognitive results on their children.

While the study is considered not conclusive over the beneficial effect of having a shot or two while a woman is pregnant, Department of Health chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson insisted abstinence from alcohol is still the best policy. But the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence qualified it only applies to the first three months of the pregnancy. Beyond that an occasional drink will not harm the growing fetus.