Drinking when pregnant

If you drink when you’re pregnant, alcohol from your blood crosses the placenta and enters the baby’s blood. As the foetus is still developing it takes longer for its liver to break down the alcohol, potentially exposing its organs and tissues to alcohol. As no threshold of safe drinking when pregnant has been established, the best advice if pregnant or planning to conceive is not to drink.

In the first three months, heavy drinking can damage the developing organs and nervous system. Continued heavy drinking for the remaining six months can have the additional effects of retarding its growth and development, which can lead to both behavioural and physical problems for the baby once it is born. A good diet, sufficient fluid intake and not smoking during pregnancy will also help provide a healthy environment for the unborn baby.