New research casts fresh doubt on the safety of women drinking in the early stages of pregnancy.
Researchers at Manchester University, UK, say they have shown how alcohol prevents the development of the placenta, which provides nutrients for the growing baby.
The researcher suggested that moderate levels of alcohol can reduce cell growth in the placenta in the early stages of pregnancy.
The findings fit with recent advice that only very low levels of alcohol drinking are safe for pregnant women.
And experts said that the findings suggest that women can only ensure the safety of their baby by avoiding alcohol.
The research was backed by the British Medical Association and reported in PLoS.
Researchers also found that alcohol reduced the amount of a vital amino acid – taurine – that reaches the baby. It is vital for brain development.
Dr Clare Tower, an obstetrician at St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester, said: "Though low levels of alcohol did not have a harmful effect, moderate to high levels were damaging. The safest clinical advice would be to agree with the current Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology guidelines and abstain.
"This is because UK studies show that there is still a lot of confusion in the perception of what alcohol units are, as well as a lack of accurate self-monitoring of drinking levels."
And Jane Brewin, chief executive of charity Tommy’s, which also backed the research, said: "It can often be a few weeks before a woman discovers she’s pregnant, and this research shows that moderate drinking during those vital first weeks can have a big impact on the development of the baby.
"Many pregnancies are unplanned, but for those actively planning a family this research raises questions about whether women should consider their alcohol intake even before they fall pregnant."
Detrimental effects of ethanol and its metabolite, acetaldehyde, on first trimester human placental cell turnover and function. PLoS 4 February 2014
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