Can I drink alcohol when I’m pregnant? And what if I drank before I knew?

UK guidance is clear: if you’re pregnant, or think you could become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all. If you drank before you knew you were pregnant, try not to panic. The risk of harm to your baby is likely to be low if you only drank small amounts, and the most useful thing you can do now is stop.

What the guidance says

The UK Chief Medical Officers advise that if you’re pregnant or think you could become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all, to keep the risks to your baby to a minimum. Drinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to the baby, and the more you drink, the greater the risk.

There’s no proven ‘safe’ level of alcohol in pregnancy, so not drinking at all is the safest choice.

Why alcohol matters in pregnancy

Alcohol in your blood passes through the placenta to your baby. Your baby’s liver isn’t fully developed, so they can’t process alcohol the way an adult can.

Drinking in pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and your baby having a low birthweight. It can also cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), a lifelong condition that affects the brain and body. The damage can’t be reversed, although early diagnosis and support make a real difference. FASD is caused by alcohol in pregnancy. The reassuring news is that the risk is likely to be low if you only had small amounts before you knew.

If you drank before you knew you were pregnant

If you’re reading this with a knot in your stomach, you’re not alone. Many people don’t find out they’re pregnant for a few weeks, and some of those weeks may have included a drink or a night out.

The Chief Medical Officers say the risk of harm to the baby is likely to be low if you drank only small amounts before you knew you were pregnant, and that in most cases it’s unlikely your baby has been affected. The NHS says not to worry unnecessarily.

What to do now:

Stop drinking for the rest of your pregnancy.
Start taking folic acid if you haven’t already. See folic acid and pregnancy vitamins.
Talk to your midwife or GP if you’re worried, especially if you drank a lot or often. Being honest about how much you drank helps them look after you and your baby.
Get medical help before stopping if you drink every day or find it hard to stop. It can be dangerous to stop suddenly if you’re dependent on alcohol. Severe withdrawal, including fits, needs emergency care: call 999 or ask someone to take you to A&E (don’t drive yourself).

When you’re trying to conceive

The NHS says the safest thing to do if you’re trying for a baby is to avoid alcohol. As you probably won’t know you’re pregnant for the first few weeks, not drinking while you’re trying means you don’t have to worry about it later.

Alcohol matters for partners too. Drinking too much can affect the quality of sperm. For partners, the UK Chief Medical Officers say it’s safest not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis, and if you do drink as much as 14 units, to spread it over 3 or more days.

Alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks

In England, government guidance sets out what drink labels should mean (this may change, as the government is considering raising the ‘alcohol-free’ limit):

Alcohol-free: no more than 0.05% alcohol (ABV)
De-alcoholised: no more than 0.5%
Low alcohol: 1.2% or less

So ‘low alcohol’ drinks still contain alcohol. If you want to avoid alcohol completely, check the ABV on the label and choose alcohol-free drinks or soft drinks.

Making it easier

Pick a go-to drink for nights out, so you’re not deciding at the bar.
You don’t owe anyone an explanation. “I’m not drinking at the moment” is enough.
Ask your partner or a friend to join you in not drinking, or at least to back you up.
If you’re finding it hard, tell your midwife or GP. Support is there, and asking for it is a positive step.

Where to get support

If you find it difficult to stop drinking, talk to a midwife, doctor or pharmacist. You can also call Drinkaware’s free helpline on 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm), or contact We Are With You or Alcoholics Anonymous. In Scotland, Drinkline is 0800 7314 314. In Wales, DAN 24/7 is 0808 808 2234.

Questions people ask

Is one drink OK when you’re pregnant?

There’s no proven safe level of alcohol in pregnancy. The risk is likely to be greater the more you drink, so the safest approach is not to drink at all.

I got drunk before I knew I was pregnant. Has it harmed my baby?

Try not to panic. Stop drinking now and tell your midwife or GP what you drank. They won’t judge you, and they can talk through what it might mean. The risk is higher with heavier drinking than with small amounts, which is why it’s worth having that conversation.

Can I drink during the two week wait?

If there’s a chance you could be pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink. See what is the two week wait?

Can I drink alcohol-free beer or wine when pregnant?

Under government guidance in England, drinks labelled alcohol-free should have no more than 0.05% alcohol. ‘De-alcoholised’ and ‘low alcohol’ drinks can contain more, so check the label.

Can my partner drink while we’re trying for a baby?

Drinking too much can affect sperm quality. The UK Chief Medical Officers say it’s safest not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis, and to spread it over 3 or more days if you do.