The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has warned expectant mothers not to drink alcohol during the first three months of pregnancy.
The advice comes in the wake of limited evidence that drinking during the early stages of pregnancy could heighten the risk of miscarriage.
The guidelines advise women that do choose to drink during pregnancy to limit their alcohol intake to only one or two units once or twice each week. A unit of alcohol is the equivalent of about half a pint of beer or one single measure of spirits. A small glass of wine contains around one-and-a-half units of alcohol.
NICE Deputy Chief Executive, Dr Gillian Leng, said of the new guidelines: "Doctors and midwives should advise women to avoid drinking alcohol when trying to get pregnant and during the first three months of pregnancy because there may be an increased risk of miscarriage,
"If they do choose to drink alcohol while pregnant, women should also be advised to drink no more than one to two UK units once or twice a week."
The Department of Health and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) advise expectant mothers that the safest option is to avoid alcohol altogether.
Today's advice follows the Department of Health's earlier announcement that drinking just one glass of wine a day could raise a middle aged woman's chances of developing breast cancer by 60%.
The advice comes in the wake of limited evidence that drinking during the early stages of pregnancy could heighten the risk of miscarriage.
The guidelines advise women that do choose to drink during pregnancy to limit their alcohol intake to only one or two units once or twice each week. A unit of alcohol is the equivalent of about half a pint of beer or one single measure of spirits. A small glass of wine contains around one-and-a-half units of alcohol.
NICE Deputy Chief Executive, Dr Gillian Leng, said of the new guidelines: "Doctors and midwives should advise women to avoid drinking alcohol when trying to get pregnant and during the first three months of pregnancy because there may be an increased risk of miscarriage,
"If they do choose to drink alcohol while pregnant, women should also be advised to drink no more than one to two UK units once or twice a week."
The Department of Health and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) advise expectant mothers that the safest option is to avoid alcohol altogether.
Today's advice follows the Department of Health's earlier announcement that drinking just one glass of wine a day could raise a middle aged woman's chances of developing breast cancer by 60%.
