However, binge drinking during the brain growth spurt (during the second and third trimester) can still have a drastic impact on the developing fetus.įigure 5.12 A binge drink for women is defined as 4 drinks of alcohol (a glass of wine, a beer, or a shot of liquor) in a two hour period. For example, mothers who drink more than 5 drinks in a single day before finding out they are pregnant have an increased risk that their child will be 1-3 months behind their peers in reading and math at the end of 1st grade. The peak blood alcohol levels reached by the mother during a single binge may be more important than the total amount of alcohol consumed.īinge drinking during the first trimester (at a time when many women do not know they are pregnant and when the fetal brain is beginning to develop) can have a dramatic impact on fetal development. It may seem daunting, but remember that health professionals speak to lots of people about these issues.While any amount of alcohol can cause damage to the fetus, there are two situations that are particularly dangerous – women who binge drink periodically and women who drink continuously throughout pregnancy (for example, one drink every day or several during a week).ĭuring pregnancy, binge drinking, defined as having four or more drinks on one occasion (for women), can produce a variety of effects on the fetus. If you’re worried about your alcohol drinking while pregnant, talk to your doctor, midwife or obstetrician. If you start drinking again after you’ve finished breastfeeding, make sure you know how much alcohol is safe to drink. The safest option is to avoid drinking until you finish breastfeeding. Having a strong support network can make it easier to stop drinking.įor general tips, read how to reduce or quit alcohol. It’s designed to help you, your partner and your loved ones go alcohol-free.
If you’re happy to tell people, simply say:įor support, try Pregnant Pause. I’m on a health kick and have given up alcohol.If you’re not ready to tell people you’re pregnant, try saying: It can be hard to stop drinking alcohol in social situations. This means an infant’s brain is more sensitive to damage from alcohol than an adult brain. A baby’s brain keeps developing after it is born. When you drink, the concentration of alcohol in your blood and breastmilk is the same. affect how the baby’s brain and spinal cord develops.reduce the flow of your milk (this can unsettle your baby and cause them to eat and sleep less).If a mother drinks when she is breastfeeding, the alcohol crosses into the breastmilk and can: a range of conditions known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
The baby’s blood gets about the same level of alcohol as the mothers blood. When a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy, so does the developing baby. You should not drink alcohol if you’re planning to become pregnant because no safe level of alcohol has been identified. To improve your chances of becoming pregnant, avoid drinking alcohol. affect the fertility of both men and women.Effects of alcohol When planning a pregnancy For more about the Council's research, read the Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol. This advice is from the National Health and Medical Research Council. The risk of harm to the fetus increases the more the mother drinks and the more frequently she drinks. No safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy or while breastfeeding has been identified.
Research by experts about alcohol and pregnancy shows that: To help keep you and your baby healthy, avoid drinking alcohol when you’re: On this page No safe level of alcohol consumption