Prenatal Binge Drinking May Have Little Risk, Study Finds

Pregnant women have been told to avoid alcohol for decades, but a new study suggests that occasional drinking and even a binge now and then could be OK, ABC News reports. Researchers at Oxford University looked at 35 years of studies and found no consistent link between sporadic binge drinking and birth defects. Doctors were quick to urge caution.

"It flies against common sense," one said. "We don't know how much is too much." Specialists emphasized that the damaging effects of heavy drinking on fetuses are not in doubt. There are fears the study will send mixed messages to expectant moms—but it might give some peace of mind to women who partied hard before learning they were pregnant. (More binge drinking stories.)