Please note: The information on this page is general and in no way replaces consultation with a health professional. Whereas every effort is made to ensure accuracy and relevance this in no way replaces seeing a Health Professional.
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Alcohol and pregnancy
Alcohol passes from your blood to the baby’s blood through the placenta. It is known to possibly affect the baby’s developing brain. Heavy alcohol use is linked to miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth and high blood pressure. |
You may also have more vomiting and be more dehydrated. Alcohol use during pregnancy is linked to
diabetes and a higher likelihood of having a small baby; this is because alcohol can slow the baby’s growth. There are no known safe levels of alcohol use in
pregnancy. It is safest to stop drinking alcohol before you get pregnant and to not drink at all during pregnancy.
It is impossible to predict how much an unborn baby is going to be affected by alcohol because every mother and baby is different. This is why no drinking in pregnancy
is the safest option. Even drinking less than one standard drink per day (without feeling tipsy or drunk) may or may not cause damage to unborn babies. Until further research information is available it is safest not to drink at all.
Unborn babies are most at risk when women drink large quantities of alcohol, or binge drink at any time during pregnancy. If you drink small amounts of alcohol in the
period before you knew you were pregnant, the risk to your baby’s health is low. Low level drinking is less than seven standard drinks a week and no more than two standard drinks on any one day.
The effects of alcohol on unborn babies during pregnancy can range from mild to severe. Four known disorders, known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
(FASD), are linked to unborn babies being exposed to alcohol during pregnancy.
The three disorders are:
growth and development resulting in:
Talk with your Dr. Petrina Duncan or midwife about your alcohol use as early as possible during your pregnancy.
Counselling in pregnancy
Pregnancy can motivate you to cut down or stop youruse of alcohol. A counsellor can help you with strategies to cut your alcohol use if you find it hard. Different people
often need different strategies that work for them.
Counselling may also help you with personal issues that might be behind your desire to drink. Petrina or midwife can link you with counselling services in your area.
If you are pregnant already and you are drinking heavily
or regularly you may need to have direct involvement of drug and substance abuse facilities, Dr. Petrina will assist and support you through this process. It is essential to know you will not be judged but can expect full support in your choices to protect your pregnancy and baby as well as improving your own better health and lifestyle.
If your partner drinks heavily, we also recommend that they cut down or stop drinking alcohol during the pregnancy and after the birth. This is necessary to support you and to prepare for their own role as a parent once the baby is born.
If there are any concerns for raising this issue with your partner in relation to this or any other sensitive issue then please be assured of complete sensitivity, privacy and support from Dr. Petrina.
diabetes and a higher likelihood of having a small baby; this is because alcohol can slow the baby’s growth. There are no known safe levels of alcohol use in
pregnancy. It is safest to stop drinking alcohol before you get pregnant and to not drink at all during pregnancy.
It is impossible to predict how much an unborn baby is going to be affected by alcohol because every mother and baby is different. This is why no drinking in pregnancy
is the safest option. Even drinking less than one standard drink per day (without feeling tipsy or drunk) may or may not cause damage to unborn babies. Until further research information is available it is safest not to drink at all.
Unborn babies are most at risk when women drink large quantities of alcohol, or binge drink at any time during pregnancy. If you drink small amounts of alcohol in the
period before you knew you were pregnant, the risk to your baby’s health is low. Low level drinking is less than seven standard drinks a week and no more than two standard drinks on any one day.
The effects of alcohol on unborn babies during pregnancy can range from mild to severe. Four known disorders, known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
(FASD), are linked to unborn babies being exposed to alcohol during pregnancy.
The three disorders are:
- fetal alcohol effects
- fetal alcohol related birth disorders
- alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder.
growth and development resulting in:
- serious learning difficulties
- intellectual disability
- poor eyesight and hearing
- poor coordination and motor skills
- defects of the face and bones
- heart, liver and kidney defects
- slow physical growth after birth
- behavioural problems.
Talk with your Dr. Petrina Duncan or midwife about your alcohol use as early as possible during your pregnancy.
Counselling in pregnancy
Pregnancy can motivate you to cut down or stop youruse of alcohol. A counsellor can help you with strategies to cut your alcohol use if you find it hard. Different people
often need different strategies that work for them.
Counselling may also help you with personal issues that might be behind your desire to drink. Petrina or midwife can link you with counselling services in your area.
If you are pregnant already and you are drinking heavily
or regularly you may need to have direct involvement of drug and substance abuse facilities, Dr. Petrina will assist and support you through this process. It is essential to know you will not be judged but can expect full support in your choices to protect your pregnancy and baby as well as improving your own better health and lifestyle.
If your partner drinks heavily, we also recommend that they cut down or stop drinking alcohol during the pregnancy and after the birth. This is necessary to support you and to prepare for their own role as a parent once the baby is born.
If there are any concerns for raising this issue with your partner in relation to this or any other sensitive issue then please be assured of complete sensitivity, privacy and support from Dr. Petrina.
Pregnancy care
For women with ongoing drinking problems, it is recommended that you reduce the effects of alcohol in the following ways:
Symptoms such as, nausea, vomiting and constipation are common during pregnancy. You may need a referral to a dietitian. Dr. Petrina will assist and support you with this.
Good dental care is also important for all pregnant women.
After the baby is born
Babies affected by large amounts of alcohol during the pregnancy, can suffer alcohol withdrawal when they are born.
After the birth, your baby will be reviewed by a doctor. The baby may need to stay in hospital for up to five days and be observed for signs of withdrawal. These signs can include:
For women with ongoing drinking problems, it is recommended that you reduce the effects of alcohol in the following ways:
- Regular pregnancy care is important to ensure that you are healthy and that your baby is growing well.
- Avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of water.
- You may need a Vitamin B supplement – Discuss this with Dr. Petrina or your midwife.
- You may need dietary supplements such as iron and calcium throughout your pregnancy.
- All women should take folate before conceiving and for at least the first
- three months of their pregnancy.
- Seek support and advice from your Petrina or a drug and alcohol service to help you to withdraw from alcohol safely.
- If you drink heavily or regularly you may need medication to help you withdraw or detox.
- Withdrawing from heavy alcohol use suddenly (cold turkey) can be very dangerous for you and your baby.
- If you have a serious alcohol problem and are pregnant, you need expert care for both you and your baby.
Symptoms such as, nausea, vomiting and constipation are common during pregnancy. You may need a referral to a dietitian. Dr. Petrina will assist and support you with this.
Good dental care is also important for all pregnant women.
After the baby is born
Babies affected by large amounts of alcohol during the pregnancy, can suffer alcohol withdrawal when they are born.
After the birth, your baby will be reviewed by a doctor. The baby may need to stay in hospital for up to five days and be observed for signs of withdrawal. These signs can include:
- shaking
- irritability
- seizures (fitting)
- bloated (swollen) tummy
- vomiting.
Breastfeeding
Alcohol passes into breast milk and can affect the baby in a number of ways. It can affect feeding, sleeping and baby’s movements. It can also reduce
your milk supply. Current recommendations about alcohol and
breastfeeding are:
- It is safer not to drink at all when you are breastfeeding.
- Avoid drinking alcohol in the first month following birth to allow breastfeeding and milk supply to become established.
- Do not have more than two standard drinks per day.
- Express milk before you drink alcohol and store it until baby needs to be fed. This is so the baby has milk available that does not have alcohol in it.
- Breastfeed before drinking and do not breastfeed again until your blood alcohol level is zero (this will take one hour for every standard drink you have).
- If you feel at all tipsy or drunk it is not a good idea to breastfeed. If expressed breast milk is not available, use infant formula and prepare according to the instructions.
- If you are planning to drink heavily, there needs to be a responsible adult caring for your baby who understands safe sleeping guidelines and is not affected by alcohol or drugs.
- Breastfeeding while intoxicated may change your baby’s feeding, sleeping and activity patterns.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
(SIDS) and sleeping accidents. Research has identified several ways to care for your
baby that will reduce the risk of sudden and unexpected infant death, including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and fatal sleeping accidents.
If you are smoking, using drugs, alcohol or medicines that make you feel drowsy, sleeping with your baby is dangerous. Anything that makes you sleep deeply will make it hard for you to respond properly to your baby’s needs. You may also be less aware of where your baby is in your bed and any dangerous positions your baby may be in. These things greatly increase the risk of your baby dying suddenly. It is important that a baby is in a smoke free environment at all times, sleeps in their own cot (never on the couch), lies on their back without their
face or head covered with their feet touching the bottom of the cot, which makes wriggling under the blankets less likely.
For more information, Dr Petrina, Midwife, Health Visitor, Child Health Nurse and/or contact SIDS and Kids by phone on 1300 308 307 for the cost of a local call – or visit
the SIDS and Kids website www.sidsandkids.org
Your baby’s development
Research shows that heavy and frequent alcohol use during pregnancy may lead to significant behavioural and learning problems in children that can still be
there when they are adults. The more alcohol that is consumed during pregnancy, the more likely it is that the child will experience these long term learning and
behavioural problems. If your baby has been exposed to alcohol while you
were pregnant, your baby should be seen regularly by a doctor that specialises in children’s health (a paediatrician) Dr. Petrina can do a referral to a recommended specialist. Regular visits with the Maternal and Child Health Nurse are also important
