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A dad has a very important role in helping his partner have a healthy pregnancy. In fact, research shows that the father can make a big difference in the mother’s decision to drink or not drink when pregnant.
You as a dad-to-be have an influence and can make a difference
A dad has a very important role in helping his partner have a healthy pregnancy. In fact, research shows that the father can make a big difference in the mother’s decision to drink or not drink when pregnant.
Most women in Canada (almost 9 in 10) do quit drinking when they find out they are pregnant. A dad can support his partner’s decision to quit.
There is a lot of confusing information about pregnancy and alcohol. Some people still think it is okay to drink when pregnant. The Saskatchewan Prevention Institute works hard to provide reliable and evidence-based information about pregnancy and alcohol.
Fathers play an important role in the prevention of FASD and raising healthy children.
Your drinking influences her drinking
Partners often have similar drinking patterns. The exception is during pregnancy, when most women choose to stop drinking. Women find it more difficult to reduce or stop their drinking when their partner disagrees with the decision.
Most men don’t want to think about reducing their drinking. In fact, many dads-in-waiting are pleased that they will have a designated driver for nine months.
Several studies show that if the father reduces or stops drinking, his partner is more likely to do the same. If he has drug and alcohol-related problems, she is almost four times more likely to drink alcohol. Approximately 77% of women who drink during pregnancy, drink with their partners. Up to 75% of children born with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) have biological fathers who are heavy drinkers. Men do have an influence.
Learn about pregnancy and alcohol
Alcohol is a substance that can cause birth defects. Fetal exposure to alcohol can result in a lifelong disability. Social, behavioural, physical, attention, and learning difficulties may not be noticed until the child is in school.
When a pregnant woman drinks, the alcohol passes through the placenta into the fetus’s bloodstream. The fetus has the same blood alcohol content (BAC) as the mother. The fetus’s liver is not fully formed or functioning and processes alcohol more slowly than the mother’s. The alcohol stays in the unborn baby’s body longer and has more time to affect the normal development of the growing cells.
Alcohol can change the structure of developing cells and interfere with how the cells work together and how they do their job. Alcohol is especially harmful to the cells in the brain and central nervous system. The brain develops through the entire pregnancy and controls basic functions such as breathing, sleeping, and heart rate and higher level functions such as thinking and reasoning.
There is no known safe amount of alcohol while pregnant. Each day without alcohol during pregnancy is healthier for the baby.
The best time for a mom-to-be to stop drinking
The best time to stop drinking alcohol is when she is trying to get pregnant. Then, there is no chance that alcohol can harm the future baby.
The good news is that most women stop drinking when they learn they are pregnant. Unfortunately, it may take several weeks to confirm a pregnancy. If a woman is drinking during this time, her fetus is exposed to alcohol.
Parents may worry about how alcohol has affected their unborn baby. Alcohol can affect the part of the baby’s brain and body that is developing at the time the pregnant woman is drinking. Each day without alcohol is healthier for the baby.
Good nutrition, reduced stress, caring relationships, regular medical care, and avoiding substances, like alcohol, add up to healthier babies and families.
In Canadian society, most men and women drink alcohol. Since half of pregnancies are not planned, many developing babies may be accidentally exposed to alcohol.
If a woman has sex with no birth control or ineffective birth control, she may become pregnant. It is best for her not to drink alcohol until she gets her next period. If a pregnancy is confirmed, avoiding alcohol is safest for fetal development.
Planning a pregnancy, while not always a reality, is best for the parents and the baby.
50%
of pregnancies are unplanned.
Can a father who drinks cause FASD?
The quick answer is no. Alcohol causes harm when it passes through the mother’s bloodstream to the developing fetus.
A father who drinks cannot cause an FASD; however, it does not mean he is off the hook. The dad can strongly affect the mom’s alcohol use before and during pregnancy. Fathers contribute to, or protect against, a mother’s drinking.
A father’s alcohol use may affect the quality of his sperm. For example, alcohol can affect the sperm’s movement (motility). Some animal studies have shown that a male’s chronic drinking can affect his fertility, his DNA, and the DNA of his future child(ren).
Research with human subjects has shown that children of fathers who drink may have challenges with:
Alcohol can also harm the immune system, increase blood pressure and weight, harm the kidneys, and cause many types of cancers. Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health provides information to support informed decision-making about alcohol use.
How to help
A man has a role in supporting his partner to have an alcohol-free pregnancy. Here are some things to think about.
Talk to your partner
It can be difficult to talk about pregnancy and alcohol. You can help by being compassionate, non-judgemental, and supportive. Women, who participated in a focus group defining an ideal partner, highlighted a sense of “togetherness” during the pregnancy. If a pregnant woman is drinking and feels judged, she may hide her drinking. That is not healthy for her or the baby.
Most women quit drinking during pregnancy. For some it is easy; for others, it’s not that simple. If your partner needs help to quit, explore options together.
A supportive person provides positive help by:
Here are some ways to start a conversation:
Try some of these!
Cookie Cutter
- To a blender, add 1 cup ice, 1 scoop vanilla frozen yogurt, 1 tbsp. butterscotch sauce, 1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon and 2 oz. milk.
- Blend and pour into small glasses.
- Garnish each with an oatmeal cookie.
Mini Mary Mocktail
- Rim a tall glass with fresh lime and sea salt.
- Fill the glass with ice and add 1/4 oz. lemon juice, 1/4 tsp. hot sauce and 4 oz. tomato juice.
- Stir to mix. Garnish with a lemon wedge and a rosemary sprig.
Sunny Lemonade
- Fill a tall glass with ice.
- Add 1 oz. pomegranate* juice and 3 oz. lemonade.
- Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds.
* Substitute another type of juice if pomegranate juice is not available
Living is Easy Mocktail
- In a glass of ice, mix 4 oz. limeade and the juice of 1/2 fresh lime.
- Add mashed raspberries.
- Garnish with a slice of orange.
