This study has identified a number of predictors which may assist clinicians to determine whether a woman is possibly at risk of drinking alcohol while pregnant. Two of the strongest associations with binge drinking in the first trimester only, were having an unplanned pregnancy and no previous children. The high prevalence of alcohol consumption by women of childbearing age in many countries [28–30], coupled with the high proportion of unplanned pregnancies [18, 31–33] invariably results in many early unintentional alcohol exposures. Reassuringly, 87 % of the 27 % of women drinking only in the first trimester stopped when they became aware of their pregnancy, suggesting an understanding of the potential harms associated with alcohol in pregnancy. Similar cessation or reduction of alcohol consumption after pregnancy recognition has been described in other populations [26, 34, 35]. However, this early drinking is occurring at a critical time of fetal development (e.g. embryogenesis) and there need to be targeted health promotion strategies to cater for this distinct at risk population sub-group.
