title: Low-to-moderate prenatal alcohol consumption and the risk of selected birth outcomes: a prospective cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate whether low-to-moderate prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with selected birth outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Low-to-moderate prenatal alcohol drinking and effects on low birthweight, preterm delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, and selected neonatal outcomes were evaluated among 4496 women and singleton infants. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using multivariable logistic regression, controlling for confounding variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early pregnancy drinking was associated with reduced odds of low birthweight, OR, 0.66 (95% CI, 0.46-0.96) and birth length less than 10th percentile, OR, 0.74 (95% CI, 0.56-0.97). Drinking during the first 3 months showed lower odds for birth length and head circumference less than 10th percentile, OR, 0.56 (95% CI, 0.36-0.87) and OR, 0.69 (95% CI, 0.50-0.96), respectively. Third trimester drinking was associated with lower odds for low birthweight, OR, 0.56 (95% CI, 0.34-0.94) and preterm delivery, OR, 0.60 (95% CI, 0.42-0.87).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest low-to-moderate alcohol exposure during early and late gestation is not associated with increased risk of low birthweight, preterm delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, and most selected perinatal outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
authors.forename: Lisbet S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Lundsberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Illuzzi
authors.affiliation: Center for Perinatal, Pediatric and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Belanger
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health/Epidemiology, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Elizabeth W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Triche
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Center for Perinatal, Pediatric and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT. Electronic address: michael.bracken@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Bracken
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Alcohol; Birth outcomes; IUGR; Low birthweight; Preterm delivery