The study showed that older women had a tendancy to drink more during pregnancy which would put their babies at a greater risk of foetal alcohol disorders.

It found that by the age of seven children born to mothers who were heavy drinkers during pregnancy had more attention issues than those who abstained from drinking, with the effects getting stronger for women over 29.

The advice is to avoid alcohol, if possible, during pregnancy but especially in the first three months and if women must drink during pregnancy it should be no more than four units a week.

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