Abstract

For a number of years the Danish National Board of Health has recommended that pregnant women should avoid alcohol during pregnancy. In recent years it has consistently been shown that one drink/day or more increases the risk of spontaneous abortion, intrauterine growth retardation and low birth weight. Increasing intake may reduce birth length and head circumference, cause preterm birth, reduced Apgar score at one and five minutes, stillbirth and malformations as well as long term effects such as reduced IQ, learning disabilities, hyperactivity, cognitive, behavioural and psychosocial problems, and in the most severe cases foetal alcohol syndrome. It is recommended that in the future pregnant women are given the following information: If you drink, drink no more than one drink per day; do not drink every day. The National Board of Health adds the following recommendation: Avoid alcohol in pregnancy if possible. Interactions between alcohol and drugs are poorly studied in pregnancy, and the recommendations do probably not apply when taking drugs that interfere with alcohol metabolism.