Maternal alcohol intakes before and during pregnancy: Impact on the mother and infant outcome to 18 months.

Aim: To investigate maternal alcohol intakes before and during pregnancy, their impact on mothers and infants to 18 months.

Method: Prospective study of 504 New Zealand volunteers visited in months 4 and 7 of pregnancy, measurements taken, lifestyle details recorded including alcohol intake before and during pregnancy. Eighteen months after birth, 370 infants were measured, and infant development recorded.

Results: Nineteen per cent of mothers never drank, 53% stopped when they knew they were pregnant, 29% continued to drink. Twenty-two per cent of drinkers binge drank (over 50 g alcohol per session) before pregnancy and 10% during pregnancy. Daily drinking was associated with increased obesity in mothers. Alcohol consumption before or during pregnancy was not associated with infant motor development, had a slight negative effect on growth, and a significant association with vocal ability to 18 months. Energy intake appeared to partially moderate this effect.

Conclusion: Maternal alcohol consumption exceeding 50 g per session both before and during pregnancy was associated with decreasing vocal ability in the 18-month old infant.