Alcohol Consumption Weakens Mother-Child Bond

Pregnant women who drink moderate amounts of wine have problems in bonding with their newborn because the child is badly behaved, the findings of a new study reveal. These women also take longer to recover after childbirth, the same research shows, in what is the first study of its kind to focus on the impact of alcohol on the health of the mother instead of the child, the Daily Mail informs.

Researchers at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen analyzed the cases of 130 women, starting with the middle point of their pregnancy to three months after delivering the baby. The conclusions they reached were that mothers who drank even moderate amounts of alcohol, wine in particular, had issues in bonding with their child, as opposed to those who abstained. They also needed more time for recovery after childbirth, even when all the factors (depression, stress and anxiety) were included in the equation.

Although the exact relation between alcohol and the weaker mother-child bond has not yet been established, researchers point out that pregnant women should try to abstain from spirits at least in the first three months of pregnancy. “Previous research found there may be some behavioral difficulties later in life with children who were pre-natally exposed to alcohol. Perhaps the effects start early on.” researcher Eilidh Duncan says for the aforementioned publication.

“The women in this study were drinking in fairly low levels, they were not problem drinkers or alcoholics by any means, but they were staying in hospital significantly longer. If you extrapolate it, it could be costing the NHS a significant amount of money. The focus has generally been on the babies so it is surprising to see these effects on the mothers.” Duncan further adds.

Dr. Katrina Forbes-McKay of Robert Gordon University agrees, saying that this study should be taken as warning that expectant mothers should abstain from alcohol consumption, even if this is a topic still up for debate with specialists. “Alcohol use not only lengthens the mother’s stay in hospital, but can be directly associated with lower levels of mother-child bonding.” Forbes-McKay says for the same media outlet.