Know… about conception and pregnancy

Studies have shown that alcohol can reduce the chance of becoming pregnant. Even women who drink five or less drinks a week may be less likely to become pregnant. Advice for couples trying to conceive is to avoid alcohol completely as it can affect the quality of the egg and sperm before conception.

Pregnant woman

While drinking large amounts over a period of time can result in irregular periods or stop them altogether, you could still get pregnant.

During pregnancy, alcohol is known to have the potential to produce birth defects in a developing embryo or fetus. If a woman drinks during pregnancy the alcohol passes quickly through the placenta into the bloodstream of the baby. The baby cannot break down and get rid of alcohol in the way that adults do. As a result, the alcohol level in the baby’s blood can be higher and remain elevated for longer than the level in the mother’s blood.

Drinking during pregnancy can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome. This is the leading known cause of mental retardation and birth defects, but is 100% preventable by avoiding alcohol during pregnancy.

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can affect:

  • the way the baby develops in the womb;
  • the baby’s health at birth;
  • the baby’s susceptibility to illness in infancy, childhood, adolescence and adult life;
  • the child’s ability to learn.

Drinking heavily before and during pregnancy can increase your risk of early miscarriage.

Government guidelines recommend that pregnant women should avoid drinking alcohol.

If you do choose to drink, to minimise the risk to your baby, you are advised not to drink more than one or two units of alcohol once or twice a week and should not get drunk.

These guidelines also apply to women who are breastfeeding. For more information visit www.breastfedbabies.org