Alcohol
Advice about alcohol in pregnancy can get confusing. But we know that drinking alcohol during pregnancy can harm your baby, with the more you drink, the greater the risk.
That is why the NHS recommends not to drink alcohol in pregnancy. This keeps any risk to your baby at a minimum.
Alcohol passes from the mother’s blood across the placenta to the developing baby. Alcohol in the baby’s blood can interfere with his or her oxygen and nutrient supply, which can lead to birth defects, reduced growth and long-term learning and behavioural problems
Stillbirths are also more common in women who drink heavily. Drinking alcohol at critical times in the baby’s development, heavy (‘binge’) drinking and frequent drinking increase the likelihood that the baby will be affected
If you're not sure about drinking in pregnancy, keep it simple
- The safest way to make sure your baby is not harmed by alcohol is not to drink while you’re pregnant
- If you are finding it hard to stop drinking, ask for help from your midwife or GP. They will be able to refer you for special support
There are free confidential helplines you can call
- Drinkline 0300 123 1110
- Wales Drugs and Alcohol helpline ‘DAN 24/7’ 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to 81066
- Addiction Northern Ireland provides support and treatment 02890 664 434
These short films about drinking in pregnancy were produced for Our Chance, a campaign by the charities Sands and Best Beginnings to raise awareness of health issues in pregnancy