Alcohol & Pregnancy

Alcohol and Pregnancy don’t mix! The safest choice is to avoid alcohol when you are pregnant and breastfeeding. Babies exposed to alcohol use during pregnancy are at risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) which can lead to physical, learning, and behaviour problems. Drinking in pregnancy can also increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and a baby being born too early or too small.

Some facts about alcohol and pregnancy:

• There is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy.
• There is no safe kind of alcohol during pregnancy. Beer, wine, cocktails, coolers, hard liquors, liqueurs and hard cider all contain alcohol that can cause harm.
• There is no safe time for alcohol use in pregnancy.
• The more alcohol a woman drinks, the greater the risks.

If you are worried about the amount of alcohol you drank before learning you were pregnant, talk to your health care provider.

It’s never too late to reduce the risks. Try replacing any desire for an alcoholic drink with a healthy alternative, such as a fruit smoothie. Ask your friends and family for their support in not serving you alcohol.

Need Help to Stop Drinking?

If you are finding it hard to stop drinking alcohol, talk to your health care provider or reach out to Fourcast. Staff will support you to choose and follow a treatment path that is right for you. Financial assistance for transportation and childcare may also be available.

The decision to seek help is a personal one. While stopping alcohol use can be difficult, you can recover. Get help as early as possible in pregnancy to increase your chances of having a healthy baby and staying healthy and safe yourself.