While the safest option for those breastfeeding is always to avoid alcohol completely, if you do choose to drink while breastfeeding, Dr Roslyn Giglia has some tips and advice for how you can make sure you do it as safely as possible.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Avoiding alcohol whilst planning a pregnancy, pregnant or breastfeeding is the safest choice that you can make for yourself and your baby.
The evidence base is clear: there is no safe time or safe amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant, because a baby’s brain develops throughout the nine months of pregnancy from conception to birth.
Drinking alcohol while pregnant can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, low birth weight, as well as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), which is a lifelong disability.
But don’t worry, you’re not alone in this journey. It’s up to all of us, as a community, to support those who are pregnant, trying for a baby or breastfeeding to make the safest choice by not drinking.
Where do the recommendations not to drink when planning a pregnancy, while pregnant or breastfeeding come from?
Recommendations are based on the latest Australian research and are included in the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol, specifically, guideline three: Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, which says:
- To prevent harm from alcohol to their unborn child, women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy should not drink alcohol.
- For women who are breastfeeding, not drinking alcohol is safest for their baby.
FAQs about Alcohol and Pregnancy
Common questions and evidence-based responses around alcohol, pregnancy, and breastfeeding.
Alcohol and pregnancy fact sheets
Research Spotlights
Featured articles which focus on recent research of FASD, alcohol and pregnancy in Australia.
- One Drink campaign proves efficacy in supporting the reduction of alcohol use in pregnancy – Professor Simone Pettigrew
- Empowering health professionals to support pregnant women through evidence-based care – Dr Emma Doherty
- Alcohol during pregnancy: Understanding how pregnant women see risk – PhD Candidate May Erng
- Written information and health professionals are top sources on alcohol and pregnancy – Dr Tracey Tsang
Beyond the FASD Hub
These resources have been created by other organisations.
National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)
NACCHO acknowledges the community-controlled sector’s leadership in developing strength-based approaches to addressing FASD, and supporting people with FASD and their families and carers. A range of campaign and information resources are being developed to support our Members and their communities.
Every Moment Matters
The core message of this national campaign by The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) is that every moment matters in pregnancy. The campaign includes resources and FAQs for those who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, partners, friends, family members, and health professionals.
One Drink
A joint initiative between the Mental Health Commission (MHC) and Cancer Council Western Australia, the Alcohol. Think Again ‘One Drink’ campaign includes detailed information about alcohol and pregnancy, advice on how to stay alcohol-free, and tips on supporting others to have an alcohol-free pregnancy.
Feed Safe App
The Feed Safe app is trusted by thousands of Australian and New Zealander women, providing research based breastfeeding information and advice. Feed Safe has now been downloaded by more than 150,000 women across Australia and New Zealand, and has been used more than 1.5 million times since its release in 2014.
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Acknowledgement of Country
FASD Hub Australia acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia, and we recognise their connections to land, water and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
