Open AccessAlcohol binge drinking in early pregnancy and the effect on fetal growth: a cohort study
Author(s) -
Slavensky Julie A.,
Kesmodel Ulrik S.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1111/aogs.13329
Subject(s) - binge drinking , medicine , pregnancy , confounding , obstetrics , anthropometry , cohort study , risk factor , demography , fetus , proportional hazards model , poison control , injury prevention , environmental health , biology , sociology , genetics
Alcohol binge drinking is common in early pregnancy and is a well‐established risk factor for subsequent child health. Yet, very few studies have investigated the effect on fetal growth. Furthermore, it has been speculated that the timing of binge drinking may be a determining factor for neonatal growth. The objective of this study was to assess the potential effect of binge drinking and different drinking patterns (timing and number of binge drinking episodes) in early pregnancy on fetal growth estimated by birthweight and birth length. Material and methods From 1 March to 31 August 2000, 1836 pregnant Danish women from Aarhus University Hospital and Fredericia Hospital were included in the study and interviewed around the early second trimester about their drinking habits during their pregnancy. Information on anthropometric measures at birth was obtained from the Danish Medical Birth Registry. The potential effect of binge drinking and different drinking patterns was estimated using a multivariate general linear regression model adjusted for potential confounders that were selected a priori based on the currently available scientific literature. Results The women who reported any binge drinking gave birth to children with a reduction in birth length of −0.02 cm (95% CI −0.23 to 0.18) and an increase in birthweight of 0.2 g (95% CI −42.8 to 43.2). The number of binge episodes and the timing of these episodes were also not associated with fetal growth. Conclusions The study suggests that binge drinking and different drinking patterns in early pregnancy do not affect fetal growth.