Alcohol & Pregnancy: Five Key Facts
April is Alcohol Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to raise awareness about the risks of consuming alcohol during pregnancy.
Consuming alcohol before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and even after pregnancy carries consequences that can be potentially devastating for a developing fetus and baby.
Read on to discover five key facts about how alcohol use can affect pregnancy, and discover just a few of our impactful childbirth education materials and models that help raise awareness about the ways alcohol use can harm babies both before and after they are born and the importance of avoiding alcohol for a healthy pregnancy and baby.
Fact No. 1: Alcohol Consumption Can Affect Both Male & Female Fertility.
If a couple is trying to conceive, levels of alcohol consumption by both parents may affect their chances of becoming pregnant. Research suggests that when a woman consumes alcohol, her periods and ovulation cycle may be affected, reducing her likelihood of conceiving. Among men, chronic alcohol consumption can lower testosterone levels, reduce sperm quality, and decrease the likelihood of conception. If a man drinks heavily prior to conception and a pregnancy occurs, the baby may be at greater risk for heart defects.
For a woman who is trying to conceive, avoiding alcohol helps ensure her fertility is optimal and eliminates the possibility that her developing baby might be exposed to alcohol before she even knows she is pregnant. Men who want to become fathers can help ensure their sperm is of optimal quality by also avoiding alcohol.
Our
With Child Desk Version is a comprehensive pregnancy education resource that covers everything from preconception planning through 6 months postpartum. The book explains the importance of avoiding alcohol and adopting other healthy behaviors in its discussion of the vital role of preconception care for a healthy pregnancy.
Fact No. 2: Prenatal Alcohol Use Increases the Risk of Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Preterm Birth.
There is no known safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. If a pregnant woman consumes alcohol, she increases her baby’s risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and preterm birth. Preterm birth is a leading cause of death worldwide for children under 5 years of age. Preterm birth can lead to multiple health problems in babies, including breathing problems, bleeding in the brain, heart defects, hearing and vision problems, increased risk of infection, and other conditions that may be life-threatening or cause long-term disability.
Our
What Mommy Does, Baby Does Display is a powerful demonstration model facilitators can use to show how alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use by pregnant women can cause devastating consequences for the babies growing inside them. Viewers watch as liquids representing alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs are placed in the mother’s mouth, and then they can see how those dangerous substances go through the mother’s body and pollute the fetal environment, represented by a lifelike fetus model in a plastic uterus. A detailed activity guide provides information about the importance of avoiding alcohol and other substances during pregnancy.
Fact No. 3: Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy Causes Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.
Prenatal alcohol exposure puts babies at risk for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), a group of conditions, ranging from mild to severe, which can cause physical, cognitive, and behavioral impairments that may emerge at any time during childhood. These impairments will last a lifetime. Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) represents the severe end of FASD.
A baby born with an FASD might have facial abnormalities, growth problems, central nervous system problems, intellectual disabilities, behavioral issues, vision or hearing problems, or problems with the heart, kidney, or bones. Alcohol exposure during pregnancy is a leading cause of neurodevelopmental disorders and birth defects.
Fortunately, FASD are completely preventable. A mother can eliminate her baby’s risk for FASD by avoiding alcohol during pregnancy. Although heavy and binge drinking increase the likelihood of harm, even small amounts of alcohol increase the risk and should be avoided.
Our
What Goes in Your Body Goes in Your Baby Chart covers alcohol in addition to other substances (including marijuana, nicotine, illegal drugs, and certain prescription and over-the-counter drugs) that can harm a developing baby. It emphasizes that no amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy.
Fact No. 4: Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Increases a Baby’s Risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
SIDS is the unexplained death of an infant in the first year of life. It is the leading cause of infant death between the ages of 1 month and 1 year. Most SIDS deaths occur between the ages of 2 and 4 months. Like smoking, consuming alcohol during pregnancy can increase a baby’s risk for SIDS. Avoiding tobacco and alcohol, practicing sleep safety, and breastfeeding are all ways to reduce the risk for SIDS.
Our
Reducing the Risk of SIDS Tear Pad is an ideal handout to provide parents with tips to help prevent SIDS, from safe-sleep practices and avoiding all exposure to tobacco smoke to breastfeeding and keeping all routine wellness visits with recommended immunizations.
Fact No. 5: Alcohol Can Pass Through Breastmilk.
If a mother drinks alcohol, the alcohol can be passed to her baby through breastfeeding. Alcohol can be damaging to a baby’s motor development and hinder the baby’s ability to gain weight. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for babies during the first 6 months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding and the introduction of complementary foods. The safest choice is for a mother not to consume alcohol if she is breastfeeding her baby.
Covering fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, our
Preventing FAS Pamphlet also covers the potential harms of consuming alcohol while breastfeeding and provides a list of dos and don’ts to help ensure a healthy pregnancy. A great handout for expectant parents, the pamphlet emphasizes that alcohol consumption can harm a developing baby even before a woman may realize she is pregnant.
The information contained in this newsletter article is not intended to replace the advice of a healthcare professional.
©2026 Childbirth Graphics®
