Two drinks a month during pregnancy raises children's risk of low IQs

Just two alcoholic drinks a month during pregnancy raises children's risk of having low IQs and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), new research suggests.

Youngsters whose mothers drank while expecting score six points lower on IQ tests and are more likely to have poor attention skills than those whose mums went teetotal, a German study found.

Such children have 193 mutated genes, which are associated with brain cell development, the research adds.

Previous studies suggest youngsters who were exposed to alcohol in the womb are more likely to suffer from hyperactivity and impulsive actions.

The NHS and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend pregnant women or those trying to conceive abstain from alcohol.

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