He says that even a small amount can harm the unborn child in some cases. The UK government currently advises pregnant women to restrict their drinking to small amounts – two units per week, one unit is about one small glass of wine.

Dr Raja Mukherjee spoke at the Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Aware UK Syndrome Conference, London, UK.

According to Dr Mukherjee, the number of babies who suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome is much higher than the current two per thousand – he reckons the number is more likely to be around one per hundred. He says that many babies are misdiagnosed.

The UK government advises pregnant women to limit their alcohol intake to one or two units per week (about two small glasses of wine per week).

According to studies, says Dr. Mukherjee, any amount, however small, is risky for the unborn baby.

This does not mean that every pregnant mother who has a couple of drinks will have a damaged child. It means that a doctor cannot advise the pregnant mother to have just one or two drinks if she wants to be sure she is protecting her baby.

Dr Mukherjee says that many cases are going unrecognised (fetal alcohol syndrome). He is sure the true number of cases is about one baby in every hundred.

Dr Mukherjee added "The brain develops throughout pregnancy and the most vulnerable period is the first three months - the first trimester - when people may not even know they are pregnant. The current recommendation of one to two units is ambiguous. The only guaranteed safe way is not to drink at all when you are pregnant.”

WHAT IS FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME?

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a group of birth defects caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Children with FAS have many physical, mental and behavioral problems and may be mentally retarded. They are small, underweight babies. As they get older, they often have trouble with learning, attention, memory, and problem solving. They may have poor coordination, be impulsive, and have speech and hearing problems.

The effects of FAS last a lifetime. Most children with FAS have trouble with work and with personal relationships when they become adults. Many have legal problems.

FAS cannot be reversed, but it can be prevented by not drinking alcohol when pregnant.

What are the most common birth defects or problems of FAS?

Children with FAS have:

-- Facial features that are not normal, such as a thin upper lip, short nose, short eye openings, and flat cheeks and philtrum (the groove in the middle of the upper lip).

-- Growth retardation. They are small and underweight from birth.

-- Brain damage. They may be mentally retarded or have problems with development, learning, and behavior.

All of these birth defects are caused by drinking alcohol in pregnancy.

If a child has some but not all of the alcohol-related problems of FAS, they are sometimes said to have fetal alcohol effects (FAE). Two newer terms are:

-- Alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD). This term is used when a child does not have FAS, but does have one or more physical birth defects caused by alcohol. These may be physical defects of the face, eyes, ears, heart, brain, or limbs.

-- Alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND). This term is used when a child does not have FAS, but does have some brain damage caused by alcohol. Children with ARND are harder to identify than children with ARBD or FAS. They often have trouble in school and have behavior problems.

How does alcohol cause these problems?

When a pregnant woman drinks beer, wine, hard liquor, or other alcoholic beverages, alcohol gets into her blood. The alcohol in the mother's blood goes to her baby through the umbilical cord. When the alcohol enters the baby's body, it can cause birth defects. Drinking alcohol in the early stages of pregnancy can cause the facial and other physical defects of FAS. Drinking alcohol at any time during pregnancy can slow down the baby's growth and affect the baby's brain. There is no time during pregnancy when there is no chance at all of hurting your baby if you drink alcohol.

Can FAS be cured?

No. But children with FAS can be helped. They may need hearing aids or eyeglasses. They should get regular medical care. When they go to school, they need special help. As children with FAS get older, they may need special services and support to help them live on their own.