ALCOHOL IN PREGNANCY

ALCOHOL IN PREGNANCY Information Leaflet Your Health. Our Priority.

of 9 Drinking whilst pregnant may harm you and unborn baby We feel it is important that you know the facts, so that you can make an informed decision on how best to protect both yourself and your baby The aims of this leaflet are to: Help you understand the possible effects of drinking alcohol on both yourself, and your growing baby. Suggest ways to reduce any possible risks. Provide advice on where to get support for you and your partner The facts Alcohol in pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm delivery, development of FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) There is no established safe dose of alcohol for pregnant women. One baby may be harmed by alcohol, while another may not. Alcohol can harm an unborn baby in differing ways at different times during pregnancy. Laboratory studies suggest that a single drinking binge by a pregnant woman can damage the brain of her unborn child for life. FASD is the leading known preventable cause of learning difficulties and birth defects. It is estimated that 1 in 100 babies are born each year in the UK with FASD.

of 9 What is a unit? If you are not sure how much you are drinking, keeping a diary similar to this one may help. Day Monday Number Of Units When, where Total Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Weekly total

of 9 Premature ageing. Drinker s nose. Weakness of heart muscle. Heart failure. Anaemia. Impaired blood clotting. Breast cancer. Vitamin deficiency. Bleeding. Severe inflammation of the stomach. Vomiting. Diarrhoea. Malnutrition. In men: Impaired sexual performance In women: Risk of giving birth to deformed babies, babies with learning difficulties or low birth weight babies Reducing the risks Reducing alcohol consumption will improve outcomes for both you and your baby. The midwife will ask you when you book a visit about your alcohol drinking habit before you became pregnant and during the pregnancy

of 9 Concerns raised related to your drinking can be discussed with your midwife and she can discuss the support available. You can self-refer to the Community Alcohol Team, MOSAIC or Derbyshire Alcohol Advice Service for additional expert advice and support. Sometimes it is necessary to detoxify from alcohol. The CAT or Mosaic worker will discuss detox with you at a time convenient to you. It is very important that the detox is done safely and may require admission to hospital for a few days. It is never too late to stop drinking. Anytime a woman stops drinking whilst pregnant, she decreases the risk of harm to the unborn baby. How does a mother s drinking affect her unborn baby? When a pregnant women drinks alcohol, so does her unborn baby. Alcohol enters the mother s blood stream and the tiny alcohol molecules cross the placenta entering the blood supply of the unborn baby. Alcohol can harm an unborn baby in different ways at different times during pregnancy. There is no definite agreement about how much alcohol causes damage to the growing baby. Some of the effects of alcohol on the growing baby are: Miscarriage Premature delivery Low birth weight Birth defects Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Alcohol withdrawal after delivery Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term for the mental and physical effects of alcohol exposure during pregnancy. It includes Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ARND), Alcohol Related Birth Defects (ARBD) and Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE) FASD is the leading known preventable cause of learning disability and birth defects. It is estimated that more than 6000 children are born each year in the UK with FASD. International studies indicate 1 in 100 children are born with FASD. If a woman drinks alcohol when she is pregnant, her baby could be born with FASD. Children and adults with FASD can suffer from learning disability, central nervous system disfunction, a distinctive pattern of facial abnormalities and damage to major organs. Children affected are often small at birth and develop slowly. Children with FASD may also have learning difficulties, show poor coordination, and have problems in memory, attention and judgment, and exhibit hyperactivity and behavioural problems.

of 9 FASD is 100% preventable when a woman abstains from alcohol during her pregnancy. The FAS face If a pregnant women drinks during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, when the facial features are forming, this may result in her child having FAS and the FAS face, as well as other fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. FAS is the only disorder of the spectrum to exhibit these facial characteristics. A child is more likely to be diagnosed with FAS if they have the facial characteristics. The facial features may not be apparent at birth. Though a child may not have the visible facial features they may still have other alcohol related disorders in the spectrum. FASD invisible characteristics Alcohol can affect the development of all cells and organs. As well as the characteristic facial features alcohol can cause neurological problems and other physical problems. The brain is particularly vulnerable to alcohol exposure. FASD possible neurological problems Attention deficits Difficulty learning from consequences Memory deficits Hyperactivity Poor judgement Difficulty with abstract concepts (maths, time, money) Immature behaviour Poor impulse control Poor problem solving skills Confused social skills

of 9 Any of these symptoms may also be present in children who do not have FASD. However, in FASD affected children these behaviours may be exaggerated, normal parenting may not work in changing a child s behaviour. FASD possible physical effects Damage to the structure of the brain Heart defects Eye problems Limb damage Hearing problems Bone formation defects Facial abnormalities Kidney damage Alcohol withdrawal after delivery Babies exposed to alcohol around the time of delivery may experience withdrawal after delivery with symptoms of irritability, hyper excitability and poor feeding, gastrointestinal symptoms and problems with glucose control. If any of these symptoms occur the baby will be monitored by the paediatricians and treatment may be required. Breastfeeding Alcohol passes freely into breast milk reaching approximately maternal levels. Occasional social drinking is unlikely to cause significant harm however high or regular use may do so. Regular drinking of more than 2 units per day may have an effect on your baby s development Peak levels in milk appear after 30-90 minutes. To reduce exposure of your baby to alcohol, avoid breastfeeding for 2-3 hours after drinking. Alcohol in breast milk may lead to drowsiness, deep sleep, weakness and decreased growth in your baby. Reduction of the let-down reflex, which stimulates the flow of breast milk, is reported when the mother drinks heavily.

of 9 Safety tips Mothers who have been drinking alcohol should never let themselves be in a situation where they might fall asleep with their baby; on a bed, chair or settee (this would also apply to other carers who have been drinking alcohol). Drinking alcohol reduces the ability of the mother to be aware of her baby s needs whether she is breastfeeding or not. In this situation it is safest to ask someone else to care for your baby. We hope this information is useful to you. If you wish to discuss any of the above information or need help in understanding the content please speak to your midwife / Health Visitor / GP / alcohol worker or any health professional. You will be treated with respect and need not feel you cannot tell us about your drinking - you are not alone. Useful contacts Specialist Midwife for Vulnerable Women 0161-419-5455 Stockport Community Alcohol Team 0161-716-4070 MOSAIC (for 25 years and under in Stockport) 0161-480-5939 Derbyshire Alcohol Advice Service 01246 204344 (Derbyshire residents only) Stepping Hill Hospital Antenatal Clinic 0161-419-5291 Stockport Women s Centre 0161 355 4455 Alcoholics Anonymous 0845-769-7555 www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk Alcohol Concern 0800-917-8282 www.alcoholconcern.org.uk Patient & Customer Services, Stepping Hill Hospital 0161-419-5678 National Domestic Abuse Hotline 0808-2000-247 Stockport Without Abuse 0161-477-4271 High Peak Women s Aid 01457 856675

of 9 If you would like this leaflet in a different format, for example, in large print, or on audiotape, or for people with learning disabilities, please contact: Patient and Customer Services, Poplar Suite, Stepping Hill Hospital. Tel: 0161 419 5678. Email: PCS@stockport.nhs.uk. Our smoke free policy Smoking is not allowed anywhere on our sites. Please read our leaflet 'Policy on Smoke Free NHS Premises' to find out more. Leaflet number MAT188 Publication date November 2013 Review date November 2016 Department Antenatal Clinic, Women's Unit Location Stepping Hill Hospital