Alcohol and pregnancy

Q 1. How will drinking alcohol affect my unborn baby?

A.  Avoiding alcohol during pregnancy is the safest option.

• There is no proven safe amount of alcohol a woman can drink during pregnancy.
• If you drink alcohol during pregnancy, some alcohol will pass through the placenta to your baby.
• The more you drink the greater is the risk of harm to your baby.

Q 2. What is the safe level of alcohol during pregnancy?

A.  The safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all if you are pregnant, if you think you could become pregnant or if you are breastfeeding.

• Although the risk of harm to the baby is low with small amounts of alcohol before becoming aware of the pregnancy, there is no ‘safe’ level of alcohol to drink when you are pregnant.
• Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can affect the way your baby develops and grows in the uterus (womb), your baby’s health at birth, and your child’s long-term health.
• Drinking heavily throughout pregnancy can result in your baby having severe physical and mental disability known as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
• It is important that you tell your obstetrician about your drinking so that appropriate support and information can be offered to you.

Q 3. What are the risks associated with heavy drinking during pregnancy?

A.  Drinking heavily during pregnancy can:

• Increase your chances of miscarriage
• Affect the way your baby develops in the uterus and, in particular, the way your baby’s brain develops
• Affect the way your baby grows in the uterus by causing the placenta not to work as well as it should. This is known as fetal growth restriction
• Increase the risk of a stillbirth
• Increase the risk of premature labour
• Make your baby more prone to illness in infancy and in childhood, and also as an adult
• Cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) or fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)

The more you drink, the more your baby’s growth will be affected and the less healthy your baby will be. However, if you cut down or stop drinking altogether, your baby will start to grow at a normal rate.

Stopping drinking at any point during pregnancy can be beneficial.

However, in some instances, the effects of heavy drinking on your baby cannot be reversed.

Q 4. What are fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)?

A.  Drinking heavily during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) or fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).

While FASD is less severe than FAS, children with FASD can have learning difficulties, problems with behaviour, physical disability, and emotional and psychiatric problems that last a lifetime.

Whether or not a baby is affected mildly or severely with FASD is directly linked to how much and how often a woman drinks during pregnancy.

Heavy drinking of alcohol or drinking alcohol regularly in pregnancy is harmful for babies and may result in a serious condition called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).

Children with FAS usually have severe physical and mental disability.

Q 5. What if I am thinking of having a baby?

A.  If you are planning a pregnancy, it is advisable not to drink alcohol during this time. Either partner drinking heavily while trying to become pregnant, can make it more difficult to conceive.

Q 6. I have just discovered I am pregnant and I have been drinking. What does this mean for my baby?

A.  Most babies will be fine. Talk to your obstetrician who will be able to advise you.

Q 7. Will I be asked how much alcohol I drink when I am pregnant?

A.  At your antenatal appointment, your obstetrician will ask you about your medical history and your lifestyle. This will include talking about your alcohol intake, if any.

Your obstetrician will offer you information and support on how to cut down or stop drinking alcohol.

Q 8. Can I drink alcohol if I want to breastfeed?

A.  The safest option is to avoid alcohol during breastfeeding as alcohol can find its way into your breast milk.

Regular drinking during breastfeeding may affect your baby’s development.

If you do choose to drink, it is safest not to drink more than 14 units per week and best to spread your drinks evenly during the week.