Alcohol and pregnancy: should they mix?

In fact these days, fathers-to-be are cutting back on their alcohol intake as well as prospective mothers. Advice can be confusing, but there are steps you can take to protect your own health and that of your unborn child.

Like most people, Amy Taylor now 30, and her husband, Will, enjoyed a bottle of wine with a meal and social drinks with friends. However, when Amy became pregnant with their first baby, Grace, now three, she knew that had to stop.

Protective instinct

Amy admits to being “over the top” when it came to her health and that of her unborn child. She changed her diet and cut out alcohol completely as soon as she stopped using contraception. "Doctors just don’t seem to know if any level of alcohol is safe,” she says.

Experts are divided. Whereas previously the occasional drink was considered perfectly acceptable, government advice suggests pregnant women avoid alcohol entirely. It’s little wonder Amy says she became confused.

Although Will supported her by cutting back his drinking too, she admits socialising became difficult.

Dealing with other people’s questions 

“When you don’t want people to know you're pregnant yet, it’s tricky,” she says. “You try to lie and say you’re drinking vodka and orange, and make up something about it not giving you a hangover. But our drinking culture makes it difficult to go out and not drink.

“People will ask outright whether are you pregnant and if you say no, then they know you are trying, which puts more pressure on you.”

When she announced she was expecting, most people were understanding. “Although,” she says, “people without children would say ‘just one glass won’t hurt’.”

Amy was happy to become designated driver but says being sober was difficult at times. “At first it’s funny to stand back and not be drunk, but it gets weary towards the end of the night. It makes you realise how ridiculous you can be when you have a drink.”

She gave birth to her second baby, Daniel, in July. During the pregnancy and now that she is breastfeeding she has again avoided alcohol completely.

A complete change in habits

Amy says she misses a glass of red wine with a meal the most, rather than big nights out drinking. And she thinks that having children has changed her drinking habits for good.

“I definitely drink less as I’ve got the kids to contend with the next day. The thought of having a hangover is pretty horrendous.

“However, I wouldn’t go back to how I was before.

“My friends will come home from work and open a bottle of wine ‘just because’, I can’t see me doing that, even though I used to.

“I do feel healthier,” she concludes, “but you have to look after yourself a lot more when other people are relying on you.”

Alcohol and pregnancy: frequently asked questions

Why is drinking during pregnancy harmful?
Harmful toxins found in alcohol travel through your bloodstream and the placenta to your baby and can damage developing cells. This can affect development of the brain, organs and face, and also the nervous system, which can result in learning difficulties and coordination problems. It can also lead to miscarriage, premature birth and low birth weight.

The term given to these problems is foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Each year, more than 6,000 babies are born in the UK with FASD.
Regular heavy drinking (six or more units a day) can lead to FASD. Regular binge drinking (five or more units on one occasion) can also put your baby at greater risk.

Studies* on low (no more than two units per day) and moderate (two to five units per day) drinking are inconclusive. This means women often face conflicting advice on whether they should abstain from alcohol completely, or if it is safe to consume small amounts.

What can I drink instead?
If you are going to the pub, the natural alternative would be fizzy drinks and fruit juices. However, these often contain high amounts of sugar, additives or caffeine, so too much is not good for your baby’s health either. Opt for soda water and fresh juice if possible. If you miss the taste of wine or beer, try alcohol-free versions, or non-alcoholic cocktails.

If you use alcohol to relax, look for other ways to de-stress instead. A bubble bath, reading a magazine, a pre-natal massage, or pregnancy yoga classes can all help.

Arrange activities that do not involve alcohol – meet friends at a coffee shop instead of the pub, or go for a walk in the park.

Can I drink if I am breastfeeding?
Alcohol can pass from breast milk to baby. Doctors recommend no more than two units a week and to avoid breastfeeding for two to three hours after consuming alcohol. As well as being harmful for your baby, alcohol can alter the taste and smell of breast milk, and your baby may be reluctant to feed. Studies show that babies of mothers who drink are at more risk of slow weight gain. As little as two units of alcohol can reduce the amount of breast milk produced, while exposure to alcohol can affect the baby’s sleep patterns. For more on this read our Alcohol and breastfeeding feature.

What if I got drunk before knowing I was pregnant?
Many women continue drinking before they know they are pregnant, or conceive while binge drinking. Don’t over-worry. Reduce your drinking immediately to within recommended limits, and talk through concerns with your midwife or doctor.

Page last updated by

Root User, 19 Apr 2010.

Page checked on

01 Apr 2009