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Drugs, smoking and alcohol in pregnancy and parenting

Drugs, smoking and alcohol in pregnancy and parenting

There’s help and information available in York at whatever level you might need it, whether that be with your own drinking or drug use or because you are affected by someone else’s substance use.

The Live Well York website has helpful information for adults on alcohol and wellbeing and help for drugs and alcohol use.

Read on for information about:

Alternatively, find advice for young people around drugs and alcohol.

If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all to keep risks to your baby to a minimum.

For helpful tips on going alcohol free in pregnancy, see the Drymester.org.uk website – the ‘sign-up’ doesn’t actually involve giving your contact details!

If you’re supporting a parent-to-be to go alcohol free, you can find top tips to support a parent-to-be go alcohol-free.

Going alcohol free during pregnancy isn’t always easy.

Book an appointment with your midwife or GP to discuss going alcohol-free safely. You can also get specialist support available directly on Live Well York.

If you suffer from symptoms such as shaking, sweating or feeling sick and anxious before the first drink of the day, then you should seek medical advice before stopping drinking completely. It can be very dangerous to stop drinking without the relevant advice and support.

Once baby arrives

Once baby arrives, an important thing to be aware of is that co-sleeping with your baby is very dangerous if you or anyone in the bed has recently drunk any alcohol - it is always best to put baby in their own safe sleep space, such as a cot or moses basket. The Lullaby Trust website has more advice on safer sleep.

See more information about alcohol and pregnancy from the Humber and North Yorkshire Maternity website.

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Cigarettes contain lots of chemicals, which have a harmful effect on you and your unborn baby. Not smoking is the best way to protect you and your baby and give your baby the best start in life.

It can be challenging to give up smoking but its never too late. When you stop smoking you reduce your risk of complications in pregnancy and birth and are more likely to have a healthier pregnancy and healthier baby.

Facts about smoking when pregnant:

  • smoking restricts the oxygen you give to your unborn baby causing their hearts to work harder with each cigarette you smoke. Not smoking lessens the risk of your baby being born with breathing complications and you are more likely to have a healthier baby
  • smokers are nearly a third more likely to suffer miscarriage and have double the likelihood of stillbirth compared with those who don't smoke
  • smoking in pregnancy can impact the newborn baby even after birth, with sudden infant deaths nearly three times as likely. The risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is greatly increased If you or your partner smokes while you’re pregnant or after your baby is born. The NHS provides more information about the risk of SIDS and The Lullaby Trust has more information about the risk of smoking and how to keep your baby smoke free
  • you're 3 times more likely to quit with help and support
  • someone who smokes 20 cigarettes a day can save over £2,500 per year if they stop smoking

Further information can be found on:

Get help to stop smoking

The voucher scheme for pregnant smokers is available. Stopping smoking during pregnancy is one of the best things you can do for your health, and the health of your baby. Cigarettes restrict the essential oxygen supply to your baby, so their heart has to beat harder every time you smoke. Our stop smoking incentive scheme for pregnant women offers free nicotine replacement therapy and or E-cigarettes, for both you and a significant other and up to £170 for completing the programme and becoming smoke-free. Vouchers are available for a number of high-street retailers. Contact York Health Trainers for more information or to make an appointment.

York Health Trainers offer free support for all York residents to help them stop smoking. The York Health Trainers provides one-to-one behaviour change advise which can support you to change your smoking behaviours, and advise you which medications to buy, if necessary. We offer free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) or e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes are significantly less harmful than cigarettes and are an effective aid for quitting.

The Bump the habit website supports pregnant women to stop smoking.

In addition, the NHS provides specific information about stopping smoking services to help you quit and the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Pregnancy Challenge Group website has a range of factsheets and information on their website that you may find useful.

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What happens in the first few years of a child’s life can shape their whole life.

Alcohol

Breastfeeding mothers can have occasional, small amounts of alcohol but should not drink regularly or heavily without considering how to limit the baby’s exposure.

If you drink any alcohol do not bed share with your baby or fall asleep on a sofa or chair. The Lullaby Trust has more information on co-sleeping with your baby.

If you have drank, you need to consider how this may affect your ability to be able to care for your baby and if you are concerned your baby should be cared for by an adult who has not had any alcohol.

It's not necessary to express breast milk to clear it of alcohol.

If you’re pregnant or could become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all to keep risks to your baby to a minimum. Find further information about alcohol and pregnancy.

The Breastfeeding Network provides more information about alcohol and breastfeeding.

In addition the NHS provides information about breastfeeding and drinking alcohol.

You can also find help and support to cut down your alcohol intake at Live Well York.

Medicines

Taking medications does not usually mean that you need to stop breastfeeding temporarily or permanently. This can be the case even if the patient information leaflet with the medication suggests you should do so. The Breastfeeding Network provides ore information on patient information leaflets and what they mean.

Breast milk and breastfeeding are important for your baby. If you have been advised to stop breastfeeding or expressing for your baby in order to take a medication or are unsure if you can take a certain medication whilst breastfeeding it may be worth speaking to someone with an interest and knowledge of breastfeeding support, such as your Midwife, Health Visitor, GP, Pharmacist or the Breastfeeding Network.

The Breastfeeding Network is a great resource which also provides information about medications and breast milk, including factsheets about frequently used medications and a service you can use to get more specific information about your medications if this is needed.

The NHS also has information about breastfeeding and medicines.

Illicit substances

Using illicit substances can affect your ability to look after your baby safely and may also pass on to your baby through your breast milk.

Don’t hesitate to talk to your Midwife, Health Visitor or GP for help with accessing treatment and support around your substance use. They are there to support you through any challenges you might have, whatever they are.

The Live Well York website also has information on support available to help you reduce substance use.

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