Is it okay to drink at any time during pregnancy?
Alcohol use can affect a developing baby at any stage during pregnancy.
No known amount or type of alcohol is safe at any time during pregnancy. Because alcohol can affect the earliest stages of fetal development – before a person may even know they’re pregnant – if you are pregnant, might be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant, no alcohol use is safest.
Alcohol can affect the earliest stages of a fetal development—before a person may even know they’re pregnant. This can affect the baby for the rest of their life.
Alcohol use at any time during pregnancy can lead to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). FASD has lifelong effects including physical, emotional and mental disabilities. There’s no cure for FASD.
Read more on FASD and a healthy pregnancy.
It is never too late to stop alcohol use during pregnancy. Stopping alcohol use will improve the baby’s health and well-being. If you are finding it difficult to stop drinking, any reduction in how much alcohol you have will benefit the pregnancy. Talking with your health care provider about other supports may also be helpful.
Alcohol may be providing a benefit to you in some way. If you want to cut down, it will be helpful to think about other things you can do that will provide that same benefit to you. For example, if you use alcohol to reduce anxiety in social situations, you could try preparing some conversation starters you can use to ease into small talk.
If you are currently using alcohol, there are tips for reducing your alcohol use. You may want to think about the following:
- Often there are patterns that develop and changing some part of then will help. For example, if you often go out for drinks with colleagues after work, try doing something else fun together after work, or go out for lunch to catch up instead.
- Make a plan. Decide ahead of time about how much you’re going to drink and what you’re going to drink. Tell some of your friends and family about your plan so they can help you stick to it. Put reminders about the plan and motivational messages in key places like your door and your phone.
- If you do go out for drinks, start with a glass of water so you’re not drinking too much because you’re thirsty, and then alternate water with alcohol. When you’ve reached your limit, continue with just the water.
- Choose smaller drinks or drinks with lower alcohol content (i.e., beer, coolers vs spirits). Learn more about standard drink sizes.
- Don’t keep alcohol in your home. Remove the temptation.
- Alcoholic drinks can be expensive. Try making a plan about how you will use the money you save from cutting back. Use the plan to help motivate you.
- If you’re drinking to cope with a stressor, try another way to coping. Physical activity is a great way to cope with stress, so maybe go for a walk when you feel like you want a drink.
If you have concerns about your drinking, talk with your health care provider. You can call the Addictions and Mental Health Helpline or go to AHS Addictions and Mental health for information about support in your area.