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Wolverhampton Information Network

Alcohol in Pregnancy

The Chief Medical Officers for the UK recommend that if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all to keep risks to your baby to a minimum.

I drank alcohol before I realised I was pregnant…

You may be worried about having drunk alcohol before finding out you were pregnant, but don’t worry unnecessarily - the risk to your baby is likely to be low. It’s more important that you stop now and stay alcohol-free throughout pregnancy. If you are worried, talk to your GP or midwife.

How can alcohol affect my baby?

Alcohol passes from your blood into the baby’s placenta. Your baby can’t process alcohol like you can, and too much can be extremely harmful to their development. If you carry on drinking, especially in the first 3 months of pregnancy, the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and low birth weight are increased.

Sometimes drinking in pregnancy can cause a serious condition called foetal alcohol syndrome. When the baby can’t process the amount of alcohol being consumed, it can affect their development in the womb, including their brain, spinal cord and other parts of the body. This can result in miscarriage, and if the baby survives, they may be left with lifelong problems such as poor growth, facial abnormalities, learning and behavioural problems.

Remember - the more you drink, the greater the risk.

But I don’t want to miss out on the fun!

You don’t have to! Being teetotal doesn’t mean you’re stuck with juice or sparkling water. Here are some creative, delicious and hydrating non-alcoholic drink ideas.

Help and support

If you feel you need some help cutting down, there is lots of support available. Here you can find out more information on drink less.

These tips on cutting down may be helpful, but if you’d rather talk to someone you can always speak to your midwife, GP or pharmacist.

These counselling services also offer confidential help and support:

  • Drinkline is the free national alcohol helpline. Call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm).
  • We Are With You is a UK-wide treatment agency that helps individuals, families and communities manage the effects of alcohol and drug misuse.
  • Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a free self-help group. Its “12-step” programme involves getting sober with the help of regular support groups.
  • Here you can find out more information on alcohol support services.

Record Last Updated on: 20/03/2023

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