Alcohol and pregnancy

The UK's Chief Medical Officers  recommend that, if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all. This will keep the risks to your baby to a minimum. Drinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to the baby. The more you drink, the more the risk.

Drinking alcohol, especially in the first three months of pregnancy, increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and your baby having a low birth weight. Drinking after the first 3 months of your pregnancy could affect your baby after they’re born. 

How does alcohol affect my baby in pregnancy?

• Anything you drink, including alcohol, passes to your baby through the placenta.
• It stays in the fluid that surrounds your baby (amniotic fluid) for a while. After you stop drinking your baby can still get affected.
• Your baby is too small to be able to process any alcohol.
• It can affect the way your baby’s brain and body develop and this can cause Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) .
• Alcohol has the most impact on neuro-behavioural problems to your unborn baby. This could include behaviour problems and anxiety.
• All babies with FASD will have damage to their brain and the rest of their central nervous system.
• Your baby develops gradually over 9 months. Alcohol can cause physical conditions such as heart problems or bone deformities.
• There are over 400 conditions linked to FASD. 

Why should I avoid alcohol before getting pregnant and when pregnant?

No alcohol means:

• Increased fertility
• Less risk of miscarriage
• Less risk of stillbirth
• Less chance of your baby being born too early
• Less chance your baby will be born too small
• Less risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• No risk of your baby having FASD
• For male partners, avoiding alcohol will improve the quality and quantity of the sperm.

What will my midwife ask me about alcohol in pregnancy and why?

• Your midwife (or doctor) will explain the risks of any alcohol in pregnancy to help you make healthy decisions.
• They will ask how much alcohol you drink and offer support if you feel you need it.
• This is then recorded in your pregnancy notes/record.
• This is asked in line with national guidance.

I’ve had some alcohol in pregnancy (or before I knew I was pregnant) and I'm worried about what to do:

• Avoid drinking further.
• The risk of harm to your baby is likely to be low if you have drunk only small amounts of alcohol before you knew you were pregnant.
• If you are drinking heavily, stopping suddenly or significantly reducing how much you drink suddenly it can be unsafe. If you suffer symptoms such as shaking, sweating or feeling sick and anxious before the first drink of the day, then you should seek medical advice before stopping drinking completely. Please speak to your midwife or GP, or contact your local specialist service to discuss going alcohol free safely.

A video highlighting the risks of drinking in pregnancy is here .

Information on drinking alcohol when breastfeeding can be found here  and on the LMNS website here. 

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Local support services are listed below:

• Hull: ReNew https://www.changegrowlive.org/hull-renew
• East Riding: East Riding Partnership https://www.humber.nhs.uk/Services/east-riding-partnership.htm
• North Yorkshire: North Yorkshire Horizons https://www.nyhorizons.org.uk/
• York: Change Grow Live (CGL) and Emerging Future https://www.changegrowlive.org/york   and LiveWellYork.  
• North Lincolnshire: https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/services/north-lincolnshire/
• North East Lincolnshire: https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/services/north-east-lincolnshire/

If you are worried about your drinking or someone else's drinking call 0300 123 1110 (free) or click here .