Alcohol and pregnancy
Thinking about having a baby?
#NoAlcoholNoRisk
As the UK Chief Medical Officers make clear, alcohol and pregnancy do not mix.
They recommend that the safest approach for people who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, is to not drink alcohol at all, to keep risks to the baby to a minimum. Alcohol at any stage of pregnancy risks the child developing a neurodevelopmental disorder. However, over a quarter (28%) of women in the UK are unaware of this advice.
We also know that binge drinking – consuming lots of alcohol in a short period – is a particular risk for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Unfortunately, it remains the case that over a quarter (28%) of women in the UK are unaware of the Chief Medical Officer’s Low Risk Guidelines.
In Scotland binge drinking is still fairly common, and around 45% of pregnancies in the UK are unplanned, so there are two pieces of advice which can help women avoid alcohol-exposed pregnancy.
Firstly, it is essential that those of childbearing age receive the message that, if they are drinking alcohol, contraception should be explored to avoid an alcohol-exposed pregnancy. Awareness of the dangers of alcohol should be promoted prior to pregnancy to allow individuals to make informed decisions for their health. Knowledge of why alcohol should be avoided during pregnancy still appears to be limited in the UK and this likely adds to the stigma and fear of judgment experienced by women when asked about their alcohol consumption.
Second is avoiding alcohol if you are, or might be, pregnant. There is no end to the benefits of supporting babies to grow in pregnancy without exposure to alcohol. A prevented case means a child is born with the ability to reach their potential and saves an estimated £1.5 million (calculated in 2007) across the lifespan. Sometimes that can be difficult – there can be pressure on people to drink socially, and dependency doesn’t stop with pregnancy. Talking to your midwife or GP if you are concerned about your drinking is the best advice, so you can get support to help stop drinking and avoid worrying. Whether you have nothing to worry about or need some support, it’s best to ask early.
Think you might be or just discovered that you’re pregnant?
If you are pregnant (or could become so), the UK Chief Medical Officer’s advice is that no alcohol is the safest option.
Find out more about alcohol and pregnancy
Drinking in pregnancy can increase the chances of miscarriage and may lead to life-long harm to the baby, with the more you drink, the greater the risk. A baby’s brain and body develop during the entire pregnancy, alcohol can affect this development and result in a number of physical, emotional and developmental difficulties.
Looking after yourself and keeping healthy will give your baby the best start in life.
I’ve discovered I’m pregnant and I’ve been drinking
If you’ve only drunk small amounts of alcohol before you knew you were pregnant the risks to your baby are likely to be low. The most important thing you can do now is stop drinking. If you need support, speak to your midwife or GP. They are still available to support you throughout your pregnancy.
If you think that you have a problem with alcohol, and are pregnant, contact your GP surgery or local alcohol service for advice and support to help you cut down and stop drinking.
Drinkline provides advice for anyone who is worried about their own or someone else’s drinking – phone 0800 731 4314, available Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm and Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm.
Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs has a comprehensive Service Finder tool you can use to find support in your local area, including local recovery communities.
The Scottish Recovery Consortium also provide details of where you can access support across Scotland if you’re struggling with an alcohol or other drug problem.
The Alcoholics Anonymous website also allows you to search for meetings in your local area by post code.
