Alcohol consumption and the risk of first trimester miscarriage

Abstract

SummaryIt is now well established that heavy alcohol consumption during pregnancy (greater than 8 units/day; 1 unit = 1/2 pint beer, 1 glass of wine or a single measure of spirits) can result in a child with fetal alcohol syndrome and a more moderate intake has been associated with birth weight reduction, perinatal complications, poor mental development and spontaneous miscarriage.There is little information on the effect of low to moderate alcohol consumption on miscarriage in a British population. Current community surveys estimate that 37 per cent of women of childbearing age (14–44 years) drink more than 5 units each week. This current study describes drinking and smoking patterns in a sample of women who miscarried in the first trimester of pregnancy.