Alcohol consumption during pregnancy

Experts still don't know how safe alcohol is during pregnancy. Therefore, it is safe not to drink at all during pregnancy.

Is it safe to drink alcohol during pregnancy?

The UK's Chief Medical Officer advises that if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, it is safe to not drink alcohol to avoid putting your baby at risk. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can harm your baby in the long run, as the more you drink, the greater your risk.

How does alcohol affect the fetus?

When you drink alcohol, the alcohol passes from the blood through the placenta to the baby.

Your baby's liver is one of the last organs to develop and doesn't mature until later in pregnancy. Your child may not handle alcohol well, and alcohol exposure can seriously affect your child's development.

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight. It can also affect babies after birth. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause a serious condition in your baby called fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). FASD can cause problems such as:

• learning and action
• Joints, bones, muscles, and some organs
• Emotion management and social skills development
• Hyperactivity and impulse control
• communication, such as language problems

The more you drink, the greater the risk.

How to avoid alcohol during pregnancy?

Giving up alcohol completely during pregnancy may not be as difficult as you might think, as many women give up drinking early in their pregnancy. Most women stop drinking when they know they are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Women who find out they are pregnant after drinking alcohol in the early stages of pregnancy should stop drinking alcohol. However, you don't need to worry too much as your baby may suffer less.

If you are worried, talk to your midwife or doctor.

What is the unit of measure for alcohol?

If you decide to drink alcohol during pregnancy, it is important to know how many units you are taking. 1 British unit is 10 milliliters (ml) or 8 grams of pure alcohol. This is:

• Half a liter of 4.5% alcohol (218 ml) cider (ABV: found on the label)
• Less than half a liter (250 ml) of 4% alcohol.
• 1 bar of spirits such as whisky, gin, rum, or vodka (25ml), 40% ABV
• At 13% alcohol, half a glass is slightly less than regular wine (76ml).

With Drinkaware devices and calorie calculators, you can see how many units are in different types and brands of drinks.