Heavy alcohol use during pregnancy can increase the risk of mental health problems , especially inattention and hyperactivity. This is the conclusion of the study carried out by a team of scientists from the universities of Nottingham, Bristol, Leicester, Oxford and Sheffield (United Kingdom), and Queensland (Australia).
The study, led by the University of Bristol (United Kingdom) and published in the journal European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , analyzed the data of more than 4,000 participants within the study “Children of the 90s” , where the style was also taken into account. of life, the mother’s own mental health, if she smoked tobacco or any other substance (such as cannabis), her education or how many children she had. Regarding the children, when they turned 11 years old, they were asked to complete, both they and their teachers, a questionnaire on academic performance.
Excessive alcohol intake (4 or more drinks a day) was present in 1 in 4 mothers at least once or twice a month during pregnancy. Thus, comparing these results with the academic performance of the children, it revealed that the pattern of excessive alcohol consumption was associated with slightly higher levels of hyperactivity in children, as well as problems of inattention, with the achievement of academic results lower .
“ The risks of alcohol exposure are intrauterine (while the child is in the womb). Women who are pregnant or planning pregnancy should be aware of the potential risks associated with binge drinking during pregnancy, although this only occurs occasionally, ”says study leader Kapil Sayal.
