Did you know? A recent Australian study found that over 60% of pregnant women drank before they knew were pregnant. Champagne, wine, cocktails and beer are often consumed in large quantities in the lead-up to Christmas, increasing the risk of unknown pregnancies being prenatally exposed to alcohol. No type of alcohol is safe for a developing fetus.
As many celebrations have a focus on drinking, declining an alcoholic beverage can be isolating. It is extremely important for family and friends to support women who are, or could be, pregnant in providing the best chance for a healthy baby. Recent research also links a father’s alcohol consumption to the health of his baby, with a father’s drinking patterns being linked to a range of altered neurological, behavioural and biochemical outcomes for his children (read more).
Remind your family, friends, and people you support:
- If they choose to drink this Christmas season, contraception is recommended to prevent an alcohol-exposed pregnancy.
- If they’re planning a pregnancy or may be pregnant, it is safest to avoid alcohol completely.
- Do they celebrate with someone who’s pregnant? Remind them that it is extremely important for family and friends to support women who are, or could be, pregnant in providing the best chance for a healthy baby. Learn more here.
- There are options: We can all choose other drinks which make holidays special, for example sparkling juices, soda water, black cherry juice, hot chocolate, one of the 12 Mocktails of Christmas by NOFASD – Australia, or Best Start’s Mocktails for Mom, of course, available in English, French and as Bilingual cards!
- Parents and service providers can learn more at https://www.alcoholfreepregnancy.ca/ , a bilingual website.
Learn more at https://www.nofasd.org.au/blog/celebrating-christmas/?fbclid=IwAR1ORX2jZRwYlK-L4-hmLwU5wigyMGeyf-Y92I1gd3COuhmyW2XS7w-t4_A