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Alcohol, pregnancy and breastfeeding

7-minute read

Key facts

  • It’s best not to drink alcohol when you are planning to become pregnant, are pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • If you are pregnant and drink alcohol, it passes from your blood through the placenta to your unborn baby.
  • Alcohol can harm your unborn baby.
  • If you are breastfeeding and drink alcohol, it passes into your milk.
  • In social situations, try swapping to a non-alcoholic drink.

Is it safe to drink alcohol if I'm pregnant?

When you are pregnant no amount of alcohol is safe for your unborn baby.

Australia has guidelines to help reduce the health problems caused by drinking alcohol. There is advice for people who are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, and breastfeeding.

In Australia, drinking alcohol is very common. It is often linked to social and cultural events. Knowing about the guidelines can help you to decide how much alcohol you want to drink.

The guidelines say that pregnant women should try not to drink alcohol at all. This is to stop your unborn baby being harmed.

When you drink alcohol, so does your unborn baby. Alcohol passes from your blood through the placenta and to your unborn baby. The placenta can’t stop the alcohol from reaching your baby.

When you’re pregnant, there is:

  • no safe time to drink
  • no safe amount to drink
  • no safe type of alcohol to drink

Alcohol can harm your baby at any point during your pregnancy. The more that you drink the more unsafe it is for your baby.

The Australian Alcohol Guidelines advise that pregnant women should not drink alcohol. If you are breastfeeding, not drinking alcohol is safest for your baby.

What effects does alcohol have on my unborn baby?

Drinking alcohol while pregnant can increase your chance of:

FASD is a group of conditions that are caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

The effects of FASD are life-long. People with FASD often need support with:

What should I do if I drank alcohol before knowing I was pregnant?

You might have drunk alcohol before you even knew you were pregnant. The risk from low level drinking before you knew you were pregnant is likely to be low.

If you are concerned, speak to your doctor or midwife. You can also NOFASD Australia on 1800 860 613 for confidential information or support.

Once you know you are pregnant, it’s safest to stop drinking.

What if I’m planning to become pregnant?

If you’re planning to become pregnant, not drinking is the safest choice for both parents. There is still a lot we don’t know about how alcohol affects sperm. Ideally, you will stop drinking 3 months before you start trying for a baby.

What if I’m breastfeeding?

If you’re breastfeeding your baby, not drinking is the safest choice.

When you drink, the alcohol moves from your blood into your breastmilk. It takes about 30 to 60 minutes for this to happen.

A few factors affect how much alcohol gets into your breastmilk, including:

  • the alcohol you are drinking (strength and amount)
  • what you’ve eaten
  • how much you weigh
  • how quickly you are drinking

It takes about 2 hours for the alcohol from one standard drink to be completely cleared from your body.

If you do choose to have an occasional drink, you can plan to protect your baby. You may wish to breastfeed your baby or express milk before having any alcohol to drink.

The Australian Breastfeeding Association has a Feed Safe app to help you understand when your breastmilk is free of alcohol.

How can I avoid alcohol during my pregnancy?

It can be hard to avoid alcohol in social situations, particularly when others might not know you’re pregnant. But you can ask for a non-alcoholic drink.

If you don’t want people to know that you are pregnant, you might also find it helpful to say:

  • “No thanks, I’m on a health kick and have given up alcohol.”
  • “No thanks, I have to drive.”
  • “No thanks, I have a big day tomorrow.”

If you’re happy to tell people that you are pregnant you can just say:

  • “No thanks, not while I’m pregnant.”

Where can I get support to give up alcohol?

If you’re finding it hard to give up alcohol while you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor, midwife or obstetrician for advice.

Try talking to your partner too. See if they will also stop or cut down on alcohol to support you.

Resources and support

For more information on giving up alcohol visit Hello Sunday Morning.

Read more about alcohol during pregnancy and breastfeeding at Every Moment Matters.

Visit the Australian Breastfeeding association to download the Feed Safe app.

Contact NOFASD Australia on 1800 860 613 for confidential information or support on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).

Other languages

You can find information about alcohol and pregnancy in languages other than English at FASD HUB.

Speak to a maternal child health nurse

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: July 2024


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Need more information?

FAQs about alcohol and pregnancy - FASD Hub Australia | FASD Hub

We've answered some common questions around alcohol, pregnancy, and breastfeeding in our list of frequently asked questions.

Read more on FASD Hub Australia website

Alcohol and pregnancy - Alcohol and Drug Foundation

Understanding the risks associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy and its impact on fetal health. Learn about safe practices for expectant mothers.

Read more on Alcohol and Drug Foundation website

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) - Alcohol and Other Drugs Knowledge Centre

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a diagnostic term used to describe the range of mental and physical effects on the developing unborn baby that are caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy

Read more on Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet website

How Much Alcohol is Really Safe During Pregnancy? | Hello Sunday Morning

Wondering how much alcohol you can have during pregnancy? We explore some of the most common questions that we get from expectant mothers.

Read more on Hello Sunday Morning website

For Pregnancy and Breastfeeding - FASD Hub Australia | FASD Hub

Avoiding alcohol whilst planning a pregnancy, pregnant or breastfeeding is the safest choice that you can make for yourself and your baby.

Read more on FASD Hub Australia website

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) | Raising Children Network

When pregnant women drink alcohol, it can cause birth defects and long-term health problems for children. This is fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, or FASD.

Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website

What Is FASD? | About Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder | NOFASD Australia

Babies exposed to alcohol in the womb can develop fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Find out what it is, how it affects the child and what you can do about it.

Read more on National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (NOFASD) website

Brain impairment in FASD - FASD Hub Australia | FASD Hub

FASD diagnosis requires severe functional impairment in at least 3three of the 10 neurodevelopmental domains.

Read more on FASD Hub Australia website

Alcohol and pregnancy: picture guide | Raising Children Network

If you’re pregnant, it’s best not to drink alcohol. If you’re trying to get pregnant, avoid alcohol. If you need help to quit, talk to your GP or midwife.

Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website

Alcohol | Your Fertility

Learn why avoiding alcohol consumption is recommend for a successful pregnancy. Visit our website to find out more.

Read more on Your Fertility website

Call us and speak to a Maternal Child Health Nurse for personal advice and guidance.

Need further advice or guidance from our maternal child health nurses?

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