Stop alcohol during pregnancy
From conception through breastfeeding, the advice is not to consume alcohol. Small amounts of alcohol (about 1-2 units per day) can lead to lower birth weight. Since no safe lower limit can be given regarding the consumption of alcohol, it is advised to avoid alcohol thus. During pregnancy, it can be harmful to the unborn baby.
Quitting alcohol before getting pregnant
If you desire to have children, stop drinking alcohol already. Research shows that it makes you more likely to get pregnant. Alcohol can make you less fertile. You also have less chance of miscarriage, premature birth and a baby with a lower birth weight. If your partner stops drinking alcohol, the chances of pregnancy increase because alcohol also affects the quality of sperm cells.
Advice on quitting drinking alcohol
Maybe you find that not drinking alcohol is not as easy as you expected. Or you find yourself dreading it in some situations. Below we give you some advice that may help you:
- Ask your partner, family and friends to support you.
- For example, you can ask your partner not to bring alcohol into the house. Or ask friends to stop offering you alcohol.
- Seek help! Discuss it with your doctor or with one of our midwives. They can help you and/or your partner or make sure you get help through coaching with specialized counselors.
Learn more
For videos and more information on quitting alcohol in pregnancy, visit:
- Alcoholinfo.co.uk
- Alcoholenzwangerschap.nl: website with information detailing the dangers of drinking alcohol before, during and after pregnancy.
- The leaflet “Alcohol-Smoking-Drugs and Pregnancy” which contains everything you need to know about alcohol, smoking and drugs before, during and after your pregnancy.
- Alcoholvrijzwanger.nl is a free course about alcohol during pregnancy. You get information, there are videos, questions and personal advice.
- Want to discuss what help is best for you? You can call the free Alcohol Info Line for advice: 0900-1995
Drugs
There are an awful lot of types of drugs. Many types of drugs can negatively affect egg and sperm quality and the health of the fallopian tubes and uterus. Drug use increases the risk of miscarriage, but can also affect the development of the baby. How profound those effects are certainly cannot always be predicted. It depends, among other things, on the type of drugs you use. In some cases, for example, the baby is born with physical defects or addiction. Drug use increases the risk of miscarriage. Are you pregnant and have used drugs? Discuss this with your midwife. Additional checkups with you and the baby during and after pregnancy are often needed
Seek advice before getting pregnant
Do you want to become pregnant and do you and/or your partner (sometimes) use drugs? Then stop doing so before you can become pregnant and while you are pregnant. It is better for your health and the development of your child. Do you or do you find it difficult to stop using drugs? Seek help! Discuss it with your doctor or with one of our midwives. They can help you and/or your partner or make sure you get help through coaching with specialized counselors.
Is it difficult for you to discuss this with your doctor or midwife, or would you like to know more without saying your name? Then call the drug info line: 0900-1995 or email vraagbaak@drugsinfo.nl.
Learn more
For videos and more information on drugs in pregnancy, visit:
- Drugsinfo.nl on risk by drug and by stage of pregnancy and after (Trimbos Institute)
- Drugs and pregnancy about different types of drugs, getting pregnant and being pregnant (Jellinek)