Pregnancy and Alcohol Webpage

This website offers information about drinking alcohol – when you are trying to conceive, during pregnancy and after birth – so you can decide what’s ‘best for you and your baby’

How does alcohol affect your unborn baby?
When you drink, alcohol reaches your baby through the placenta. But, the baby cannot process it as fast as you can, and is exposed to greater amounts of alcohol for longer than you are. And too much exposure to alcohol can seriously affect the baby’s development.

Because of the risk, pregnant women or women trying to conceive should avoid alcohol. In Coventry we encourage women not to drink alcohol and that: ‘Avoidance of alcohol is the safest option for you and your baby’

Conception

Did you know it is safer to avoid alcohol if you’re trying to get pregnant?

I’m trying to get pregnant, how much alcohol can I drink?
Nobody really knows how much is safe to drink before your chances of conceiving are reduced. But, we do know that heavy drinking can disrupt menstrual cycles, and that women who drink heavily can find it harder to get pregnant. If you’re trying for a baby, it’s advisable to avoid alcohol.

Should men stop drinking as well? There are good reasons why men should avoid drinking excessively if you are trying for a baby:

• Alcohol kills sperm and, excess alcohol can make a man less fertile
• Heavy drinking can cause temporary impotence

In short, you will have less chance of being pregnant if the man drinks too much. And while you may not want to make him stop, you can make sure he knows the facts. ‘Avoidance of alcohol is the safest option for you and your baby’

For more information on conception, visit www.coventry.nhs.uk/bestforbaby/conception

When you’re pregnant

Did you know that drinking alcohol whilst pregnant can damage your unborn baby?

The effects of alcohol
When you drink, the alcohol passes from your blood, through the placenta, to your baby. A baby’s liver is one of the last organs to fully develop and does not mature until the latter half of the pregnancy. Therefore, your baby cannot process alcohol as well as you can, and is exposed to greater amount of alcohol for longer periods of time.

Alcohol is not just dangerous for the baby in the first three months. If you drink heavily during pregnancy, a particular group of problems could develop; know as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).

Children with this syndrome have:

• Restricted growth
• Facial abnormalities
• Learning and behavioural disorders

Regular ongoing drinking in pregnancy above the levels recommended, as well as ‘binge drinking’ may be associated with lesser forms of the full FAS.

The risks of heavy drinking during pregnancy – heavy drinking during all three stages of pregnancy can result in problems:

First trimester (months 0-3)
• Damage to developing organs and nervous systems, resulting in later mental and physical problems
• Major structural abnormalities
• Spontaneous miscarriage

Second trimester (months 3-6)
• Continued risk of damage to the central nervous system
• Continued risk of miscarriage

Third trimester (months 6-9)
• Disruption to general growth and development
• Dulled mental abilities
• Minor abnormalities
• Low birth-weight

If may be that you weren’t actually trying for a baby, but have conceived by accident. If this has happened to you, you should avoid alcohol as soon as you find out you are pregnant. ‘Avoidance of alcohol is the safest option for you and your baby’
For more help and advice speak to your Midwife or GP.

After giving birth

Did you know that a 250ml glass of wine (ABV 12%) contains 3 units of alcohol and that one unit of alcohol takes about two hours to clear from a mother’s milk?

The facts about breastfeeding and alcohol

How will drinking affect my baby?
Be assured that by breastfeeding, you’re giving your baby the best possible start in life. It’s very unlikely that having the occasional drink will harm your baby.

However, we do know that alcohol passes to the baby in very small amounts through the breast milk. Because of this is it advisable to avoid alcohol or keep your drinking to the limits recommended for pregnant women. If you regularly drink more than the recommended amount, it can affect your baby in a number of ways:

• Your milk may smell different and put your baby off feeding
• The alcohol may make your baby too sleepy to feed
• The baby may have difficulties with digestion and problems with his/her sleeping patterns

For more information on breastfeeding and alcohol speak to your Midwife, Health Visitor or GP or visit www.coventry.nhs.uk/bestforbaby/breastfeeding

Keeping baby safe

As well as being a time of joy and excitement, the first few months after giving birth can be difficult and demanding. Sleep deprivation, endless feeding and changing routines, emotional ups and downs, can leave you feeling tired and drained, but heavy drinking will leave you feeling a whole lot worse.

Although it may help you feel relaxed at first, drinking too much at this time will make you feel more irritable and low. This will make it harder to cope with the constant attention that your baby needs.

To reduce the risk of cot deaths don’t share a bed with your baby if you have been drinking alcohol, taken drugs or some medications are a smokers, or very tired. ‘Avoidance of alcohol is the safest option for you and your baby’