Alcohol & Pregnancy

If you're pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant, you might be wondering if alcohol can harm your developing baby. You may also be wondering if it's safe to drink if you are pregnant. This webpage gives some information about fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).

What is fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)?

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a term used to describe the range of symptoms seen in some children born to women who drank alcohol during pregnancy. Babies with FASD may

• be small for their age
• have a small head
• have facial abnormalities
• have problems with their heart or other vital organs
• be restless and have difficulty sleeping

Individuals with FASD have brain damage that is permanent. Some of the problems they may experience include

• problems with hearing and vision
• high activity levels
• problems learning in school
• difficulty with speech
• difficulty adjusting to changes in routine
• social problems
• eating and sleeping problems
• difficulty following directions
• poor memory
• poor coordination

If I'm pregnant, how much can I drink?

No one knows for sure how much alcohol is safe for a pregnant woman to drink. Most doctors and researchers say that it's safest not to drink if you're pregnant and while breastfeeding (since alcohol is passed to the baby through breast milk). When you're pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, no alcohol is best.

How is the fetus affected by alcohol?

How a developing fetus is affected by the mother's drinking depends on many things:

• how much the mother drinks during pregnancy when in the pregnancy the mother drinks
• how often the mother drinks
• how well the mother's body breaks down the alcohol
• the ability of the fetus to handle alcohol
• the use of drugs,
• other than alcohol other factors like the mother's nutrition and smoking habits
• What we do know is that alcohol can harm the fetus. What we don't know is how much alcohol it takes to cause the harm. So, no alcohol is best when you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant.

Is drinking at certain times during my pregnancy safer than at other times?

There is no known safe time to drink during pregnancy. Since the fetus is growing all through the pregnancy, alcohol can cause harm at any time. During the first three weeks after a women gets pregnant, alcohol-related damage to the fetus can cause a miscarriage. Up to 12 weeks, alcohol-related damage to the fetus can include abnormalities of the head and face, damage to the brain, and lower birth weight. Drinking at later stages of pregnancy can also cause developmental delays. This means that the child may not behave and achieve the way other children do. A baby can also be affected by alcohol passed through breast milk.

I'm pregnant and I think I may have a drinking problem. What can I do?

Remember that it is never too late to stop drinking. At any time in your pregnancy, cutting back on how much you drink, or stopping altogether, will help. If you are having trouble controlling your drinking or stopping, seek help. In Alberta, AADAC offers treatment programs that specifically address the special needs of women. You may also want to talk to your doctor or community health nurse about alcohol and pregnancy.

For more information, contact your local AADAC office or call the AADAC Help Line at 1-866-33AADAC.