Healthy Choices for a Healthy Baby: Staying Alcohol- and Drug-Free
The choices you make today can stay with your baby for a lifetime.
When you’re pregnant, your baby is connected to everything you eat, drink, and experience. This means that what goes into your body affects your baby, too. Choosing to stay away from smoking, drinking, and drugs can be one of the best things you do to give your baby a healthy start.
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drugs:
How They Can Affect Your Baby
Many women choose to protect their babies by avoiding harmful substances during pregnancy. Alcohol, tobacco, and drugs can hurt a baby’s growth and development. For example, e-cigarettes and vaping devices contain nicotine and other chemicals that can be just as harmful as regular cigarettes.
You can make choices now that will help protect your baby’s health forever.
Quit Smoking for Your Baby’s Health
When you smoke, your baby is exposed to harmful chemicals. Quitting now can help protect your baby’s growth and development. Babies exposed to smoke before or after birth may have a higher chance of:
- Being born too small or too early
- Experiencing breathing or sleeping problems
- Facing behavior issues later in life
Even secondhand smoke can harm your baby. Babies who are around secondhand smoke are at greater risk of asthma, ear infections, allergies, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
What You Can Do Now:
- Quit smoking today! It’s never too late to stop.
- Ask for help—support is available if quitting feels hard.
After Your Baby Arrives:
- Keep your baby away from smoke. Don’t allow anyone to smoke around your baby.
- Breastfeed your baby, and stay smoke-free. Smoking can reduce milk supply and affect your baby’s growth.
Take a Break from Alcohol
Alcohol can harm your baby at any stage of pregnancy. There is no safe amount to drink while pregnant. Drinking alcohol can cause a range of serious problems, including fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Babies with FASD may have birth defects, vision and hearing problems, learning disabilities, and behavioral issues.
What You Can Do Now:
- If you’re pregnant, it’s safest not to drink at all.
- If you’re struggling to stop, reach out for help—there are resources to support you.
After Your Baby Arrives:
- Be very cautious about drinking alcohol, if you choose to drink at all.
- If you choose to drink, wait until your baby is at least 3 months old and breastfeeding is going well. You may consume a single alcoholic drink, then wait at least 4 hours after before breastfeeding. You may also express breast milk before drinking to feed your baby later.
- Remember, your baby depends on you. Be responsible. Stay sober.
Stay Off Drugs for a Safer Pregnancy
Any street drug, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and meth, can harm your baby. Misusing prescription drugs can also be harmful if they’re not taken exactly as prescribed. Using these substances can increase the risk of birth defects, premature birth, and other serious health issues.
What You Can Do Now:
- Protect your baby by staying drug-free.
- If you need help stopping drug use, ask for support. Trying again, even if it’s difficult, can make a huge difference.
After Your Baby Arrives:
- Stay drug-free to support your baby’s health. Remember, drugs can pass through your breast milk and affect your baby.
Ask Before Taking Any Medicines
Before taking any medicine, check with your doctor. Some medicines, even common ones like pain relievers and allergy pills, may not be safe during pregnancy. Taking the wrong medicine could lead to birth defects or developmental problems.
What You Can Do Now:
- Tell your doctor about all medicines, vitamins, or supplements you take.
- If you get sick, ask which medicines are safe for you and your baby.
After Your Baby Arrives:
- Check with your doctor before taking any medicines if you’re breastfeeding, as they can pass through your breast milk.
Getting Support: A Healthy Start for Your Baby
- Talk to your doctor or WIC clinic for additional support and referrals.
- Call 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669) or sign up for stop-smoking text support at http://smokefree.gov/smokefreetxt/.
- Call 1-800-NCA-CALL (1-800-622-2255) for help with quitting alcohol or drugs.
Remember, your baby depends on you for a healthy, safe start in life. With the right choices and support, you can make a positive difference that will last a lifetime.
REFERENCES:
United States Department of Agriculture. Give Your Baby a Healthy Start.
https://wicworks.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/Give_Your_Baby_a_Healthy_Start_English.pdf
