Updated on May 2, 2024.
It is best to not drink any alcohol when you are pregnant. It is also best to not drink alcohol if you are trying to get pregnant. A lot of growth takes place in the early weeks of pregnancy. Many people do not know they are pregnant until they are 6 weeks along or more.
Be careful about drinking if you are breastfeeding. The alcohol you drink passes into your breastmilk. Pump your breastmilk after drinking and throw it away. Or you can wait to nurse your baby. This will allow the alcohol to clear from your body.
Drinking alcohol can affect your health. Men should not have more than two drinks per day. Women should not have more than one. But what about pregnant people? No, it is not safe to drink during pregnancy. There is no amount that is considered safe.
A fetus develops in an organ (called the placenta). It is connected to this organ by an umbilical cord. When a pregnant person drinks alcohol, it is passed to the fetus through the umbilical cord. Then it goes to the placenta.
Alcohol can affect the fetus’ brain. It can also affect the growth of other organs. It could even cause the pregnancy to end. This is called a miscarriage. Pregnant people who drink may also have a stillbirth. This means the pregnancy does not result in a live baby.
Drinking during pregnancy could cause your child to be born with a condition called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). It affects children’s appearance, behavior, and thinking. It may be mild or very serious. Drinking even a small amount of alcohol during pregnancy can increase the risk for this problem.
Drinking during pregnancy is also risky for other reasons, including:
- It does not provide healthy nutrients
- You are more likely to fall while drinking
- It may add to weight gain
It is best to not drink any alcohol when you are pregnant. It is also best to not drink alcohol if you are trying to get pregnant. A lot of growth takes place in the early weeks of pregnancy. Many people do not know they are pregnant until they are 6 weeks along or more.
Be careful about drinking if you are breastfeeding. The alcohol you drink passes into your breastmilk. Pump your breastmilk after drinking and throw it away. Or you can wait to nurse your baby. This will allow the alcohol to clear from your body.
