Drinking alcohol while pregnant or breastfeeding

Alcohol during pregnancy

When the mother or birthing person drinks during pregnancy, some alcohol passes through the placenta to the baby. The baby’s liver cannot process alcohol yet, so it remains in their body for longer (RCOG, 2022; NHS, 2023 a; NHS, 2023 b).

There is clear evidence that heavy drinking can have a negative effect on the pregnancy. This could cause miscarriage, low birth weight, premature labour, still birth, and more illnesses in infancy and childhood (RCOG, 2022).  

What if the mother or birthing person drank alcohol before finding out about the pregnancy?

If this was a moderate amount of alcohol then any risk to the baby is likely to be low. Talk to the midwife or doctor if concerned about having drunk more than the guidelines before becoming aware of the pregnancy (NHS, 2023 b). 

What are the current guidelines around drinking alcohol?

When not pregnant, the UK guidance is to drink no more than 14 units a week, spread over three or more days (Department of Health and Social Care, 2016). The NHS has a useful guide on units.

More than three alcohol units in a single session is called ‘heavy’ drinking (BMA, 2016). More than six alcohol units in a single session is called ‘binge’ drinking, and is associated with risky behaviour and unplanned pregnancy (BMA, 2016).

Research cannot prove any amount of alcohol to be safe for the baby. Therefore, as a precaution, women and pregnant people are advised by the Chief Medical Officer to not drink alcohol when planning a pregnancy or while pregnant (Department of Health and Social Care, 2016). 

What if someone chooses to drink alcohol during pregnancy?

Evidence is unclear for low to moderate drinking. However, the risks of harm to the baby are known to increase with the amount of alcohol consumed (BMA, 2016).  

The British Medical Association caution women and birthing people that serving sizes and concentrations of alcohol may be different in pubs, bars, restaurants or at home. This means it can be easy to underestimate how much alcohol has been drunk (BMA, 2016). 

What is FAS and FASD?

Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a severe condition where the baby doesn’t grow normally, has facial abnormalities, and learning and behavioural disorders (Department of Health and Social Care, 2016).

Children with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD) have lifelong physical, mental and behavioural difficulties (Department of Health and Social Care, 2016).

FAS and FASD are strongly linked with heavy and binge drinking in pregnancy (BMA, 2016).

There is no treatment for FASD, but early diagnosis can make a difference. Parents can talk with the GP or health visitor if they have any concerns (NHS, 2023 b). Support for families is available from:

FASD Network UK  

National Organisation for FASD 

Drinking alcohol while breastfeeding

Alcohol goes into the breastmilk at around the same level as it is in the blood. It peaks in the blood around an hour after being drunk. This can vary with the type of alcohol, stress, and if the person has had anything to eat (Lactmed, 2025).  

If it is necessary to feed the baby, breastmilk will have a lower alcohol level within the first hour of having an alcoholic drink, or after 2-3 hours per drink (Lactmed, 2025). 

There is no benefit to ‘pumping and dumping,’ a term sometimes used for expressing and discarding milk in the belief that it will ‘flush out’ alcohol from the breastmilk. Breastmilk is produced on demand, so alcohol in breastmilk will always match the level of alcohol in the blood. While the blood alcohol level is high, the milk alcohol level remains high (Lactmed, 2025).

What is the guidance on drinking alcohol while breastfeeding?

The NHS recommends the standard guidance of no more than 14 units spread across the week while breastfeeding. They also suggest leaving a gap of at least 2 hours between drinking and breastfeeding (NHS, 2022).  

If planning a social occasion when the mother or breastfeeding parent plans to drink, they could express milk in advance. Using this milk for the first feed after drinking protects the baby. It may be necessary to express a little milk for comfort while the baby has the pre-prepared milk. This expressed milk can be discarded (NHS, 2022).

Our NCT Breastfeeding Counsellors can support with any questions about expressing breastmilk or feeding your baby.

What are the risks of drinking alcohol while breastfeeding?  

Alcohol can affect the mother or breastfeeding parent’s ability to look after the baby. If the mother or breastfeeding parent is planning to, or has drunk, more than 6 units of alcohol in a session, it is safest to have a sober adult available to care for the baby (NHS, 2022).

Alcohol can have a short-term effect on milk production. It reduces milk letdown and so disrupts breastfeeding until the alcohol has cleared the mother or birthing person’s system (Lactmed, 2025).  

There is no evidence that low-level drinking while breastfeeding shortens the duration of the breastfeeding relationship (Wilson et al, 2017). 

Myths around alcohol

People used to think that moderate alcohol consumption would help relax new mothers and birthing people, and promote milk supply (Lactmed, 2025).

Research now shows that the effect on supply is similar whether it is alcoholic or non-alcoholic beer. This suggests it is the barley and hops that might increase milk supply, rather than the alcohol (Lactmed, 2025).

Rather than sedating the baby, research suggests they may be more agitated and spent less time in quiet sleep after drinking breast milk containing alcohol (Schuetze et al, 2002).

Cutting down and stopping drinking alcohol

Stopping or cutting down heavy drinking at any point during pregnancy will benefit the baby. However, it is not always possible to reverse the effects of heavy drinking (RCOG, 2022).

The NHS has tips on cutting down. If having problems reducing drinking, talk to a midwife, GP or pharmacist (NHS, 2023 b).