It goes without saying that pregnant women are best advised not to consume alcohol, but is drinking the occasional glass over nine months altogether wrong? Who has not drunk a glass of champagne after a positive pregnancy test? Or sipped a good glass of wine at New Year, despite the round stomach? Is this harmful for the unborn child? Should it be prohibited? Where do you draw the line?

When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, the diluted alcohol finds its way into her blood, and that blood flows via the mother's milk to the foetus. If a pregnant woman is under the influence, so consequently is her baby. And since the baby is so much smaller, the effects of alcohol consumption, which are directly proportional to the body weight, are much greater. What passes as a moderate, healthy consumption for an adult is therefore much too much for an unborn baby. It is beyond dispute that regular drinking during pregnancy is unhealthy: the risk of a premature birth increases and daily consumption can even jeopardize the health of the foetus. So far, however, it is not clear precisely where the line must be drawn. According to recent epidemiological research, in which the drinking habits of more than 40 000 pregnant women were analyzed, three glasses of beer per week will do no harm and will not increase the risk of premature birth. Once they reach four to seven glasses per week pregnant women would run a slightly higher risk of giving birth to their babies too early.

Last month our website www.bierengezondheid.be also polled your opinion on the question: of the more than seven hundred respondents roughly half think that a glass of beer now and again can do no harm, while the other half advise against it or are not quite sure.

Even science is unable to offer a clear answer. That is why opinions are so divided. Anyone who wants to play safe will advise against drinking to the last drop, going by the motto that anyone who drinks also tends to drink more and drink more often. However, anyone who can drink sensibly knows that an occasional glass of beer is not an artefact of the devil, not even during pregnancy. We must, of course, inform pregnant women about the risks of alcohol consumption, but preferably in a correct manner. Experience teaches that a wagging finger has less effect than an honest explanation of the pros and cons.

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