Results Nearly two-thirds of women before
pregnancy and over half in the first trimester reported
alcohol intakes above the Department of Health (UK)
guidelines of ≤2 units/week. Associations with birth
outcomes were strongest for intakes >2 units/week
before pregnancy and in trimesters 1 and 2 compared
to non-drinkers. Even women adhering to the
guidelines in the first trimester were at significantly
higher risk of having babies with lower birth
weight, lower birth centile and preterm birth
compared to non-drinkers, after adjusting for
confounders ( p