Alcohol during pregnancy

It’s difficult to get definitive data on the effects drinking alcohol during pregnancy may have on your baby ­– after all, it would be very unethical to run a trial to discover the true impact it has on mothers and their babies. The facts we do know come from observational studies, and evidence suggests that there are many risks associated with drinking during pregnancy. These include an increased risk of:

• Lower birthweight and reduced cognitive ability¹
• Growth retardation, birth defects and neurodevelopmental problems²

We also know that any alcohol you drink during pregnancy will reach your baby through the placenta³. And as your baby's liver doesn’t mature until the later stages of pregnancy, it cannot process alcohol effectively. As such, exposure to alcohol can have a serious impact on your baby’s development.

Drinking alcohol, especially in the first 3 months of pregnancy, also increases the risk of miscarriage and premature birth. And it’s widely recognised that excessive alcohol intake throughout your pregnancy can seriously affect your baby's development, causing irreversible damage on their central nervous system and many other organ systems in their body^4,5.

Because the scientific evidence on drinking alcohol during pregnancy is not clean-cut, and there’s no evidence to suggest how much is safe⁶, the NHS advise not to drink at all for the duration of your pregnancy, to keep risks to your baby to a minimum⁷.

Try not to worry too much if you find out you’re pregnant when you’ve already been drinking, as the risks of limited drinking are low⁸. Just try to cut out alcohol going forward. However, if you’re concerned about the amount you drank, there’s no harm in mentioning it to your midwife or GP.

Heavy drinking throughout pregnancy can lead to a condition called Foetal Alcohol Syndrome which has a variety of effects on many of your baby’s developing organ systems, such as physical malformation, cardiovascular, renal, musculoskeletal, ocular and auditory issues⁴.

The more you drink the more likely it is for your baby to get Foetal Alcohol Syndrome or other alcohol related health issues⁶.

If you’re struggling to stop drinking, these tips may help make cutting out alcohol that little bit easier:

• Ask your friends and family to join you in going alcohol-free.
• If you drink to relax, try having a bath, exercising or practicing mindfulness instead.
• Try swapping beer or wine for non-alcoholic options, or swap cocktails for mocktails.