Alcohol and drug use in pregnancy: Keeping you and your baby safe
Avoiding alcohol during pregnancy is one of the best ways to protect your baby’s health.
Many women and birthing people naturally lose interest in alcohol early in pregnancy, but for others, giving up drinking can be more challenging.
There is no known safe level, no safe amount and no safe type of alcohol during pregnancy. The UK Chief Medical Officers (CMO) advise that the safest approach is to avoid alcohol completely if you are pregnant or trying for a baby. Drinking alcohol at any stage of pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), which can cause lifelong learning and developmental difficulties for your child.
If you are finding it difficult to stop drinking, support is available. Speak to your midwife, GP, or local support services Barnsley Recovery Steps for confidential advice and help.
For more information on alcohol and pregnancy, visit the National Organisation for FASD.
Drug use
Using illegal or street drugs during pregnancy, including cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine and heroin, could have a serious effect on your unborn baby.
If you regularly use drugs, it's important to tackle this now you're pregnant.