Pregnancy and alcohol
The Australian Alcohol Guidelines make it clear that when pregnant or planning a pregnancy you should not drink alcohol. When breastfeeding, it is safest for your baby if you do not drink alcohol.
Even a small amount of alcohol during pregnancy can harm a baby's development and may have lifelong effects. There is no safe amount, no safe time and no safe type of alcohol during pregnancy.
When alcohol is consumed during pregnancy the baby’s blood-alcohol level will be approximately the same as the mother’s blood-alcohol level.
Alcohol during pregnancy can increase the risk of:
- lower birth weights
- miscarriage
- stillbirth
- premature birth
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) – find out more on FASD Hub or NOFASD websites.
To help keep both you and baby healthy, avoid drinking alcohol if you're planning to become pregnant, are already pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
Find out more about the Australian Alcohol Guidelines.
Supporting alcohol-free pregnancies
We can all take steps to support women in their decision to have an alcohol-free pregnancy.
Friends, family and partners can create supportive environments by organising social events that don’t involve alcohol or that offer plenty of alcohol-free alternatives.
Partners and close friends can also support someone who is pregnant by joining them in going alcohol-free or cutting back, as women are more likely not to drink during pregnancy if their partner stops drinking too.
All of us can help support alcohol-free pregnancies, including local health providers, businesses and services.
Pregnant Pause is a project that aims to foster the supportive village during pregnancy – acknowledging that the responsibility of achieving an alcohol-free pregnancy is a shared one.
After all, it takes a village to raise a child.
Breastfeeding and alcohol
It is safest not to drink when breastfeeding, because alcohol crosses from the blood into breast milk. The concentration of alcohol in the blood and the breast milk will be the same.
A baby’s brain continues to develop after it is born and is far more sensitive to damage from alcohol than an adult brain.
Alcohol exposure through breast milk can also negatively affect the feeding behaviour and sleep patterns of a baby – which can be a significant problem when trying to establish a sleep and feeding pattern with your baby in those crucial first months.
Just as it takes time for alcohol concentration in the blood stream to lower, the same is the case for alcohol concentration in breast milk. Alcohol is present in breast milk for some time after consuming alcohol.
Only time will lower the alcohol concentration in breast milk. Breast milk that has been expressed after alcohol consumption still contains alcohol.
Breastfeeding app
Go to the Australian Breastfeeding Association to learn more about alcohol and breastfeeding, including how to use the Australian Breastfeeding Association feeding app.
Support services
Your general practitioner is a good person to speak to about issues relating to alcohol and pregnancy .
You can also ring the Canberra Health Services Alcohol and Other Drug Services’ intake on helpline Intake & Helpline on (02) 5124 9977 for more information.
For more information and support go to alcohol support services.