Content
Public health guidelines from 197712 suggested limiting pregnant women to two drinks per day. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) offers an Alcohol Treatment Navigator. This tool helps healthcare providers find quality care for patients who need help stopping alcohol use. All types of alcohol can cross the placenta and reach the fetus. The developing baby cannot process alcohol as well as an adult. A long-form video appeals to a broad audience of people who can impact decisions about alcohol use during pregnancy (e.g., partners, grandparents) as well as patients of reproductive age.
If a woman is drinking alcohol during pregnancy, it is never too late to stop. If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant and cannot stop drinking, get help. Some research shows that marijuana use during pregnancy is linked to health concerns. These include high use of other substances that may impact pregnancy and infant health such as tobacco. Further research is needed to better understand how marijuana may affect pregnant women and developing babies. Consistent with guidance from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, CDC discourages using marijuana during pregnancy.
Recognization and Screening
Alcohol use during pregnancy3 can disrupt fetal growth at any stage. The safest choice is to avoid it completely when pregnant or trying to conceive. Women who drank before knowing they were pregnant should talk to their doctor.
Understanding the Risks of Alcohol Use During Pregnancy
Drinking alcohol while pregnant is a leading cause of birth defects for a baby. Alcohol is broken down more slowly in the baby’s developing body than it is in an adult’s body. This can cause the alcohol levels to remain high and stay in the baby’s body longer. The risk for miscarriage and stillbirth also goes up if the pregnant person drinks alcohol. Studies have shown that some people who drink during pregnancy may have an underlying condition (such as depression) or other exposures (such as cigarette smoke) that can increase the chance of miscarriage. There is no safe amount of alcohol1 for pregnant women to drink.
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can harm the developing fetus. The type and amount of alcohol consumed can lead to different outcomes. No amount of alcohol is considered what is alcoholism safe for pregnant women. There is no question that very heavy drinking during pregnancy is bad for your baby.
The child may struggle with making and keeping friends, which can lead to social isolation and feelings of frustration and loneliness. These challenges make succeeding in school difficult, which is hard for both the child and the parent or caregiver. FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome), the most severe of the disorders, occurs in pregnancies during which the mother drinks heavily. There is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy or when trying to get pregnant. Alcohol can cause problems for a developing baby throughout pregnancy, including before a woman knows she’s pregnant.
How much alcohol will harm the fetus?
The brain remains sensitive to alcohol throughout all stages of pregnancy. Drinking late in pregnancy is linked to an increased risk of stillbirth and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)1. The CDC states there is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy1. Light drinking may seem harmless, but it still poses risks. The safest choice is to avoid alcohol completely during pregnancy.
How can alcohol consumption in the third trimester affect fetal development?
Some people believe that wine or beer is less harmful than spirits. There are no tests available to diagnose FASD during pregnancy. Prenatal ultrasounds can be used to screen for some birth defects.
Find out what experts say about whether light drinking is risky when you’re pregnant. The importance of maintaining iron levels during pregnancy for fetal development and how to maintain those levels. If you cannot control your drinking, avoid being around other people who are using alcohol. These medical problems are lifelong and can range from mild to severe. Copyright 2025 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
- Your child’s healthcare provider can talk with you about what is available for families and children with problems related to alcohol exposure in pregnancy.
- Studies have reported higher rates of stillbirth among women who drink alcohol during pregnancy.
- Because drinking during pregnancy in the U.S. is judged so harshly, the group of women who drink during pregnancy are very different from those who do not in other ways, including other possibly risky behaviors.
Medication-Assisted Therapy (MAT) During Pregnancy: A Safe Treatment Option for Opioid Use Disorder
- Alcohol use during pregnancy is one of the most common causes of physical, behavioral, and intellectual problems.
- Drinking alcohol during pregnancy poses a potentially serious risk to the unborn baby.
- A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
- Health professionals play a crucial part in preventing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
Prenatal alcohol exposure is the leading cause of problems with brain development in the United States. This sheet is about exposure to alcohol in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information is based on available published literature.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs)
Many women worry about alcohol they may have consumed before learning they were pregnant. While it’s best to stop drinking as soon as possible, early exposure doesn’t always cause issues. It is difficult to diagnose FASD because there is no biological test andother disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and Williamssyndrome have similar symptoms. If it is hard for you to stop drinking, talk with your healthcare provider about getting help.