For every week that a pregnant woman consumes alcohol, between the fifth and tenth week of pregnancy, the risk of miscarriage increases by 8%. Researchers from Vanderbilt University calculated this in the study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics.
The research analyzed the timing, quantity and type of alcohol consumed during gestation and how these factors are linked to the risk of miscarriage in the first 20 weeks. The impact of alcohol increases in the first nine weeks and occurs regardless of whether the woman drank less than one glass or more than 4 during each week.
The risk is also independent of the type of alcohol drunk and whether the mother has had episodes of alcohol abuse. In the study, involving 5353 women, half reported drinking alcohol during conception and in the first few weeks of pregnancy. The mean gestational age at which consumption was stopped was 29 days. Although 41% changed their habits within 3 days of a positive pregnancy test result, those who stopped drinking around the time they should have menstruated had a 37% risk of miscarriage. % higher than those who did not drink alcohol.
"Abstaining from alcohol during conception or pregnancy has long been recommended for many reasons. However, modest amounts consumed are often regarded as safe," comments Katherine Hartmann, study coordinator. "For this reason our results are alarming - he concludes - No amount can be recommended as safe when it comes to the risk of abortion."
