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Trying to get pregnant

If you are trying to get pregnant, you need to be aware that the amount you drink can reduce your fertility and ability to conceive. Excessive drinking, especially getting drunk, can even lead to a miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy. The safest approach is not to drink at all, or at least significantly reduce your alcohol consumption. If you're trying to become pregnant, drink no more than one or two units of alcohol once or twice a week and avoid getting drunk.

• Check your alcohol unit levels with the Drink Aware unit checker Opens new window
• Preparing for pregnancy and advice on conceiving

Alcohol guidelines - how much is a unit?

One UK unit contains eight grams of pure alcohol and it's the strength and size of a drink that determines how many units it has. It is not as simple as one drink, one unit. To find out more, go to the Drinkaware website.

• Check alcohol units at the Drinkaware website Opens new window

If you are pregnant

Women are strongly advised to not drink alcohol in the first three months of pregnancy because there may be an increased risk of miscarriage.

The dangers of alcohol

When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, the alcohol passes through the placenta and can affect the baby's development. This happens throughout the pregnancy, not just in the first few weeks.

Excessive drinking can lead to:

• premature birth
• low weight at birth
• harming the physical and mental well-being of the child - this is known as Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
  

Alcohol and breastfeeding

Alcohol passes to the baby in small amounts in breast milk. The milk will smell different to the baby and may affect their feeding, sleeping or digestion. The best advice is to avoid drinking shortly before a baby's feed. When breastfeeding, the recommended daily limit for women is between two and three units of alcohol. The limit applies whether you drink every day, once or twice a week, or occasionally.

Further information and useful contacts

If you would like help or further information about alcohol, you can ask your GP, or contact any of the following organisations:

• Drinkline on 0800 917 8282 (Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 11.00 pm)
• National Drugs Helpline (Department of Health) on 0800 77 66 00
• Alcoholics Anonymous on 0845 769 7555 (National Helpline) - local numbers can be found in the phone book or on the AA website

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Opens new window
• Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Aware UK Opens new window

Smoking

Smoking while pregnant not only damages your own health, but can also harm your baby. It has been linked to a variety of health problems, including:

• premature birth
• low birth weight
  
• cot death, miscarriage
  
• breathing problems/wheezing in the first six months of life

If you stop smoking during pregnancy, you will have less morning sickness and fewer complications.

Giving up smoking

If you're trying to give up smoking, also encourage those around you to do the same. Second-hand smoke contains poisonous gases, tar and toxic chemicals that are harmful to you and your baby's health.

Support for giving up smoking

Only you can decide to quit but you can get help and support to stay a non-smoker.

The free NHS Pregnancy Smoking Helpline 0800 169 9 169 is a confidential support service. A specially trained person will answer your call and will listen to your needs, suggest different ways of giving up smoking and can send you a free information pack.

Local NHS Stop Smoking Services are available in your area. Special help is available for pregnant mums and their partners who are finding it difficult to give up. To find out where your local service is, call the NHS Pregnancy Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 9 169.

• More information on giving up smoking (health and well-being section)
• The important role of partners Opens new window
• Smoking and pregnancy information from NHS Choices Opens new window

More useful links

• Information about alcohol misuse from NHS Choices Opens new window
• Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Opens new window