Healthy Living

Alcohol

When you are pregnant it is important be very careful about the things you put into your body and come into contact with. One thing that is well known to be very harmful to babies is alcohol consumption by their mothers. Drinking alcohol while you are pregnant often results in serious lifelong disabilities and health problems for children. The most serious and well known problem associated with drinking alcohol during pregnancy is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

How does the alcohol I drink get to my baby?

When you drink during pregnancy, alcohol passes from your bloodstream to the baby’s bloodstream.

How much alcohol can I drink while I’m pregnant?

None! No one knows for sure how much drinking causes FASD. That means that there is no safe amount of alcohol you can drink while you are pregnant. Daily drinking and binge drinking (3 or more drinks at any one time) are the most risky. There is also no safe time during your pregnancy to drink, so don’t! If you cannot stop drinking completely, it is important to reduce the amount you drink. Less is better, but none is best.

Are any types of alcohol O.K. to drink while I’m pregnant?

No! Beer, wine, cocktails, coolers, hard liquors such as whiskey, gin or vodka, liqueurs or even hard ciders all contain alcohol that can hurt your developing baby. There is no alcohol that is “safe” to drink when you are pregnant.

Mental, Physical and Emotional Problems Caused by FASD

• Problems with speech and vision.
• Learning problems.
• Poor memory.
• Poor coordination.
• Difficulty handing emotions resulting in problem behaviors.
• Difficulty with reasoning and judgment.
• Difficulty handing simple everyday tasks.
• Slow growth.
• Birth defects (such as bones that are not properly formed and heart problems).

Can FASD be cured?

No. People have FASD for their entire life. They often require lifelong supports and services like special education, vocational programs, and homecare.

Can my baby’s father cause FASD?

No. FASD can only be caused when a biological mother drinks alcohol while she is pregnant. However, it is known that women with partners who drink are more likely to drink themselves during pregnancy. Fathers can play a big role in supporting a woman's choice not to drink while she’s pregnant.

What are some solutions?

Plan to stop drinking before you become pregnant. If you are already pregnant, stop drinking as soon as possible. It is never too late to stop.

Is it safe to drink while breastfeeding?

Alcohol may affect your baby’s sleep or decrease the amount of milk your baby takes at feeding time. It’s best not to drink at all while breastfeeding. If you chose to drink, feed your baby first. Alcohol is not trapped in breast milk. It is continuously circulated into and out of breast milk. If you are drinking alcohol in large amounts, talk to your doctor before breastfeeding.

If you find it hard to stop drinking and need help, contact your doctor or the health unit closest to you.

For more information on pregnancy and alcohol use, and/or contact information for Drug and Alcohol Counseling near you, click on the Resources page of this site, or visit the following websites:

ActNow BC
www.actnowbc.ca/EN/pregnant_women/drinking_alcohol_during_pregnancy/

BC Health Guide – Pregnancy and Alcohol Use
http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthfiles/hfile38d.stm

BC Health Guide – How to Stop Drinking Alcohol
http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/kbase/as/tj2649/how.htm

Health Canada – About FASD
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fasd-etcaf/about_e.html

Canadian Pediatric Society – FASD
http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/pregnancy&babies/FASpregnancy.htm

Sources:
BC HealthGuide. BC Healthfile #38d, June 2006.  Pregnancy and Alcohol Use. http://www.bchealthguide.org/healthfiles/hfile38d.stm
Health Canada. Healthy Pregnancy: Common Questions About Alcohol and Pregnancy.
http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/hp-gs/pdf/hpguide-eng.pdf
Baby’s Best Chance: Parents’ Handbook of Pregnancy and Baby Care 6th edition (2005). Province of British Columbia: Ministry of Health.