Can i drink Alcohol in pregnancy? What do experts say?

5 things to know:

1. Alcohol you drink will cross the placenta to your baby
2. The baby cannot break the alcohol down because it does not yet have the enzymes.
3. Because there are no known safe limits, it is safest not to drink at all
4. That said, occasional small amounts aren’t going to be a problem – be kind to yourself if that happens.
5. Drinking regularly in pregnancy is harmful to babies– if you are struggling not to do this, ask for help from your midwife.

There has been a lot of confusion about alcohol in pregnancy. Current NHS advice is to avoid drinking alcohol in pregnancy. This is because there are no known safe limits of alcohol in pregnancy. 

Why shouldn’t I drink alcohol in pregnancy?

Let’s be straight about this – everything you eat and drink will cross the placenta and reach your baby, albeit in smaller amounts than you actually consume. This means that any alcohol you consume will reach your baby, and you would not give a baby a gin and tonic in a bottle, would you? (I hope!). The baby cannot break that alcohol down in the way that you can.

It is known that high levels of alcohol are definitely damaging to the baby, as they can affect how the baby develops. Most worryingly, the baby’s brain and nervous system are undergoing intense change and development and alcohol is damaging to those sensitive developing organs. Alcohol has also been associated with a baby that does not grow as much as it should, miscarriage and a baby being born prematurely. Large amounts of alcohol cause developmental, learning and behavioural problems in the baby, which is something called fetal alcohol syndrome. 

Is there any safe limit to drink?

Having said that, there is no evidence that small amounts of alcohol are damaging. So, if you consumed alcohol before you knew you were pregnant, or have half a glass of fizz on a special occasion, or end up drinking alcohol by accident, as long as it is a one off, and only a small amount, it most likely won’t have caused any problems, most likely. Do not be too hard on yourself. In particular, if you consumed alcohol when you did not know you were pregnant, if this was in the very early weeks (6-8 weeks), this is probably not too concerning as at this stage, because the placenta does not have a fully developed blood supply at this stage. Because we don’t know what level of alcohol is safe or unsafe, and it probably varies with individuals, the safest thing is to choose not to drink any alcohol at all.

If you find yourself unable to stop drinking alcohol during pregnancy, then please seek help to stop. Tell your midwife as soon as possible and she can help you seek support. Support is also available from: