Half of women trying for a baby drink alcohol, don't exercise enough and don't ...

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Half of women trying or planning for a baby drink alcohol and don’t exercise enough, a study reveals.

Research has found ‘troubling trends’ in the lifestyles of women who want to conceive while continuing to smoke, drink and not eat enough fruit and vegetables.

Scientists analysed data on more than 130,000 women in the UK who were asked questions about maternal health. They found 54 per cent of women planning a pregnancy drank alcohol, 20 per cent smoked cigarettes and 3.7 per cent said they used recreational drugs.

Only half the women in the study ate their five-a-day fruit and veg, and even fewer exercised for the recommended 150 minutes a week. Just 31 per cent took folic acid supplements – despite plentiful evidence that they improve pregnancy health.