The authors of the study, in the journal BMJ Open, say the guidelines on safe drinking are confusing, pointing out that Ireland, New Zealand and Australia recommend no alcohol for the entire pregnancy, while the United Kingdom says one to two units once or twice a week will do no harm after the first three months.
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The prevalence was consistent across social groups.
“And I’ve talked this through with the chief medical officer – we have to get the balance right between warning women and responding to the very important stats you’ve just mentioned, but not causing unnecessary worry for the around 50 per cent of people who don’t plan their pregnancy and may have drunk before they realised they were pregnant”.
However, they pointed out that since the risks of low levels of drinking are not fully understood, women should avoid alcohol during pregnancy.
However, small amount of alcohol intake are not yet given explanation of its possible effect.
Pregnant women should undergo regular alcohol tests, health experts have suggested after new figures found one in three binge drink.
Ireland had the highest prevalence of any alcohol consumption pre-pregnancy (90%) and during pregnancy (82%), and the highest reported binge consumption before (59%) and during (45%) pregnancy.
The researchers said it was a “significant public health concern” that so many woman were consuming alcohol even at low levels, as the dangers of this were not yet known. The first trimester of pregnancy is a crucially formative time for the foetus; drinking large amounts of what is essentially a legal drug represents highly risky behaviour.
The study also found that women who smoked were more likely to drink and Caucasian women drank more than those of other ethnic backgrounds. Women aged 40 and older were also more likely to drink than those aged 30-39.
Alcohol use before and during pregnancy is “prevalent and socially pervasive” in Ireland, according to an global study.
Instead, associations with health outcomes rely on self-reported maternal alcohol consumption, which may be biased.
The team reviewed three surveys that included almost 18,000 women: The Growing up in Ireland (GUI) study; the Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints (SCOPE) study; and the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS).
“Where midwives are encouraging women to quit smoking they should also ask about alcohol consumption”
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She added: “Providing pregnant women with more support and up-to-date information is paramount and advising women on the potential consequences of alcohol consumption and smoking during pregnancy should be of utmost importance to all midwives, GP’s and maternity support workers”.
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Last month, ex- Children’s Commissioner for England Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green spoke out against the “political denial” and “inconsistent and contradictory advice” that he said comes from health agencies on whether women should drink alcohol when pregnant.
