Alcohol Use and Pregnancy

Alcohol Use and Pregnancy

Alcohol use during pregnancy can affect an unborn baby’s development leading to challenges associated with FASD. Alcohol is a ‘teratogen’ which means it can harm developing cells and an unborn baby’s brain and body development at any time during pregnancy.

The effects can impact many functions including motor skills, physical health, learning, memory, attention, communication, behaviour, sensory processing and social skills.

Parents don’t intentionally harm their developing babies. Complex factors influence prenatal alcohol use. It takes all of us to support the health and well-being of parents, babies and families.

Tamatta – All of Us Together

Alcohol use in pregnancy can be complicated by many factors:

  • Not being aware of pregnancy
  • Experiencing high rates of stress
  • Having a history of experiencing trauma
  • Family violence and intimate partner violence
  • Forced alcohol use by a partner or other person pressuring alcohol use
  • Inconsistent health messaging about alcohol use in pregnancy
  • History of substance use and addiction
  • Feeling alone and unsupported
  • Having a hidden disability such as FASD
  • Not having access to resources, support and information
  • Male alcohol use can affect sperm which increases the chance of a baby having FASD and/or similar neurodevelopmental differences to that of FASD.