The Public Health Agency of Canada says there is no known time during pregnancy where it is safe to drink beer, wine , cocktails, coolers, hard liquor or even hard ciders.

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada recommends avoiding alcohol and unnecessary drugs during pregnancy.

Drinking during pregnancy can mean that your baby is smaller than usual. Drinking heavily in pregnancy can result in fetal alcohol syndrome, this is a condition that can cause lifelong, serious problems for your baby, including:

• Physical disabilities (impaired growth and small head.)
• Learning difficulties (poor memory and attention problems.)
• Emotional and behavioural difficulties; children exposed to alcohol in the womb are 3.2 times more likely to have behaviour and aggression problems compared to non-exposed children.
• Changed facial features (flat mid-faces, thin upper lips and distinctive facial features.)

Some research indicates that milder symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome may be caused by moderate drinking when pregnant.

Dr. Gideon Koren, founder and director of the Motherisk program at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, indicates that alcohol is not good for the developing brain.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in London concludes:

“Women should be informed that binge drinking (defined as more than five standard drinks on a single occasion) may be particularly harmful during pregnancy.”

The UK measures a standard drink as a 330ml bottle of beer or a 125ml glass of wine.

Health Canada estimates that at least one child is born with fetal alcohol syndrome each day in Canada. It has been described as the leading preventable cause of birth defects.