Is It Safe for My Baby? - Alcohol

(e.g., beer, wine, coolers, cocktails, hard liquor/spirits such as vodka and gin)

Risks During Pregnancy

There is no known safe level of alcohol use in pregnancy.
Drinking at any point during pregnancy may increase the risk of miscarriage, premature delivery, stillbirth and other problems.
Alcohol use during any stage of pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which may result in physical deformities and problems with physical, mental and emotional growth. Less severe forms of these problems are referred to as fetal alcohol effects (FAE).

Recommendations During Pregnancy

It is best not to drink while pregnant.
If you have problems quitting, seek medical help or counselling about how to reduce or stop drinking.

Risks During Breastfeeding

Alcohol has been shown to be present in breast milk and can be passed on to the baby.
Alcohol may slow the baby's motor development, cause a decrease in milk intake and lead to sleep problems.
How long the alcohol will stay in the breast milk depends on factors such as how many drinks the mother has had, her weight and how quickly the drinks were drunk. For example, it would take about 4.5 hours for alcohol to leave the breast milk of a 140-pound woman who has drunk two drinks in one hour.

Recommendations During Breastfeeding

It is best to avoid drinking alcohol during the months that you breastfeed. If you do drink, plan to feed the baby (breastfeed or pump breast milk) before you drink.