Pregnancy has become ever more "policed", with a litany of rules for parents-to-be on how to behave, a parenting conference is due to hear.

Men are increasingly encouraged to be involved in a partner's pregnancy
Researchers at the two-day seminar at Kent University will present fresh analysis of the decision to advise pregnant women to avoid any alcohol.

There have been mixed messages about drinking in pregnancy in recent years

However concerns that some women may underestimate their drinking, as well as fears that a lack of evidence did not mean moderate consumption was safe, are thought to have informed the 2007 decision to advise pregnant women in England to abstain.

Dr Ellie Lee, a lecturer in social policy at the University of Kent, suggests that in "advocating abstinence without an evidence base, policy makers formalise a connection between uncertainty and danger".

She adds: "They have decided it is preferable that pregnant women take no risk even if there is no evidence of harm.

"But there are dangers associated with this approach, not least that such hyper risk-aversion sits uneasily with advice to parents against 'cotton wooling' or worrying too much about their children's health.

still no rules on who is allowed though.

have a licencing scheme before you are allowed to ahve any