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72 3.2 Pregnancy

Alcohol Table 3.2.5 Alcohol units

Alcohol intoxication should be avoided at any stage Units of Alcoholic drinks
of pregnancy and especially in the early weeks alcohol
where it is associated with teratogenesis and may 1 Half a pint of ordinary strength beer,
cause miscarriage. lager or cider (3.5% alcohol by volume
1.5 (ABV))
The advice around limiting or avoiding alcohol A 125 mL glass of wine (9% ABV)
intake during pregnancy varies and although there is 2 A 25 mL measure of spirits (40% ABV)
no overall consensus opinion there is evidence that:
A 125 mL glass of wine at 11% or 12%
●● the alcohol in the mother’s bloodstream crosses ABV
the placenta into the bloodstream of the fetus 1 bottle of ‘alcopop’

●● drinking heavily throughout pregnancy (more A 175 mL glass of wine at 11% or 12%
than ten units per day) is linked with an ABV
increased risk of fetal alcohol syndrome
The caffeine content of drinks and chocolate is as
●● fetal alcohol syndrome is characterized by follows:
reduced birthweight and length, a small head
size with characteristic facial appearance and a 1 shot of espresso coffee 140 mg
variety of congenital abnormalities 1 mug of filter coffee 140 mg
1 mug of instant coffee 100 mg
●● the safest approach in pregnancy is to choose 1 cup of brewed coffee 100 mg
not to drink at all 1 mug of tea 75 mg
1 cup of tea 50 mg
●● small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy (not 1 can of cola up to 40 mg
more than one or two units, not more than once or 1 can of ‘energy’ drink up to 80 mg
twice a week) have not been shown to be harmful 1 bar of plain chocolate up to 50 mg
1 bar of milk chocolate up to 25 mg
●● regular binge drinking (five or more units of
alcohol on one occasion) around conception and Certain cold and flu remedies also contain
in early pregnancy is particularly harmful to a caffeine.
woman and her baby
Food Safety
●● alcohol has a detrimental effect on the
absorption and utilization of folate, thus General food hygiene should be followed carefully
compounding the problem in women who do but extra care should be taken:
not take folic acid supplements.
●● when buying unwrapped foods (e.g. cooked
NICE recommends that pregnant women avoid meats and prepared salads) – if scrupulous food
alcohol but women who do choose to drink should handling guidelines have not been followed,
consume no more than one or two units of alcohol, these foods can easily become contaminated
once or twice a week (NICE 2008b).
●● with cook–chill foods – these are ready cooked
Alcohol units are defined in Table 3.2.5. foods sold chilled and should not be eaten cold,
but cooked until piping hot right through. They
Caffeine should be heated once only and the leftovers
discarded.
A limit of 200 mg/day of caffeine intake is currently
recommended for pregnant women because high
levels of caffeine are suspected of causing
miscarriage or low birthweights (Food Standards
Agency 2010).