Mums-to-be can drink 2 glasses of wine a week

EVIDENCE that light alcohol intake can be harmful to unborn babies is “limited”, a study claims.

Most guidelines advise a complete booze ban but 80% of mums-to-be drink some alcohol.

Now Bristol University scientists have reviewed 5,000 studies on the effects of light drinking.

They found those having four units a week, or two 175ml glasses of wine, had a 10% higher risk of a premature birth and 8% more risk of a small baby.

But they said this association did not prove a direct link with casual drinking.

Lead researcher Dr Loubaba Mamluk said: “We found limited evidence for a causal role of light drinking in pregnancy compared with abstaining.

“Women who have a drink should be reassured that they are unlikely to have caused their baby considerable harm.”

Previous guidelines have left many women confused about whether just one glass is harmful.

The Bristol study noted woman who smoke up to 20 cigarettes per day have a 22% increased risk of premature birth.

CONFUSED Drink guidance