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.alcoholics-anonymous.org