Here Are Some Questions You May Have About Alcohol and Drinking
While You Are Pregnant.
1. Can I
drink alcohol if I am pregnant?
No. Do not drink alcohol when you are pregnant. Why? Because when
you drink alcohol, so does your baby. Think about it. Everything
you drink, your baby also drinks.
2. Is any
kind of alcohol safe to drink during pregnancy?
No. Drinking any kind of alcohol when you are pregnant can hurt
your baby. Alcoholic drinks are beer, wine, wine coolers, liquor,
or mixed drinks. A glass of wine, a can of beer, and a mixed drink
all have about the same amount of alcohol.
3. What if
I drank during my last pregnancy and my baby was fine?
Every pregnancy is different. Drinking alcohol may hurt one baby
more than another. You could have one child that is born healthy,
and another child that is born with problems.
4. Will these
problems go away?
No. These problems will last for a child's whole life. People
with severe problems may not be able to take care of themselves
as adults. They may never be able to work.
5. What if
I am pregnant and have been drinking?
If you drank alcohol before you knew you were pregnant, stop drinking
now. You will feel better and your baby will have a good chance
to be born healthy. If you want to get pregnant, do not drink
alcohol. You may not know you are pregnant right away. Alcohol
can hurt a baby even when you are only 1 or 2 months pregnant.
6. How can
I stop drinking?
There are many ways to help yourself stop drinking. You do not
have to drink when other people drink. If someone gives you a
drink, it is OK say no. Stay away from people or places that make
you drink. Do not keep alcohol at home.
If
you cannot stop drinking, GET HELP. You may have a disease called
alcoholism. There
are programs that can help you stop drinking. They are called
alcohol treatment
programs. Your
doctor or nurse can find a program to help you. Even if you have
been through a treatment program before, try it again. There are
programs just for women.
For help and information
You
can get help from a doctor, nurse, social worker, pastor, or clinics
and programs near you.
For confidential information, you can contact:
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
check your local phone book for
listings in your area
Internet address: http://www.aa.org
National Council on Alcoholism
and Drug Dependence
20 Exchange Place Suite 2902
New York, NY 10005-3201
(800) 622-2255
Internet address: http://www.ncadd.org
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse
and Alcoholism
5635 Fishers Lane, MSC 9304
Bethesda, MD 20892-9304
(301) 443-3860
Internet address: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov
National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
216 G Street, NE, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20002
(800) 66-NOFAS
Internet address: http://www.nofas.org
