Introduction
On this page, you’ll learn about the impacts of alcohol, tobacco, tobacco-like products, cannabis, and other drugs on your developing baby. Discover where to find help to cut back and quit.
Prescription and over-the-counter medicine as well as herbal products and other natural remedies can also affect your baby’s health. Learn how below!
Alcohol
No amount or kind of alcohol is good for your health. Drinking alcohol can harm your baby. It’s safest not to drink alcohol while you’re pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant. Alcohol affects every pregnant individual and baby differently.
Alcohol passes through the mom’s placenta and to the growing baby. A baby’s liver is not as developed as an adult’s, so it cannot break down the alcohol as fast. This means that a baby’s developing organs are exposed to the effects of alcohol for a longer period of time.
Drinking alcohol can affect your baby at any stage during pregnancy. Once your baby’s developing brain or other organs are damaged, they can’t be fixed.
Drinking during pregnancy can increase the risk of:
- low birth weight
- preterm birth
- miscarriage
- stillbirth
- withdrawal symptoms for your baby at birth, such as being shaky and irritable, having no appetite, sleeping poorly, diarrhea, vomiting, breathing problems, seizures or problems with sucking during feeding
- fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)
Babies with FASD have permanent brain damage of different degrees, physical impairments and behavioural challenges. They can have some or all of these problems:
- disrupted brain development—which can affect how their brain develops and how they learn and remember
- birth defects such as face and head deformities as well as heart, kidney, bone and muscle defects
- hyperactivity
- slowed body growth
- trouble understanding the consequences of their actions
FASD has lifelong impacts on your baby. There’s no cure. Some effects of drinking alcohol during pregnancy may not be seen until your baby is older, when they have problems in school, with learning or behaviour. Being exposed to alcohol before birth, especially through binge drinking (drinking a large amount of alcohol over a short period of time with the intention of becoming intoxicated), is linked to things like mental illness or anxiety in early adulthood, even in adults who haven’t been diagnosed with FASD.
If you drink alcohol, it’s never too late to make healthy changes. Any reduction in alcohol use has benefits. If you’re in a relationship, make healthy changes together and support each other. Ask for help if you have concerns about your alcohol use or your partner’s alcohol use:
- make a plan to cut down and quit
- talk with your health care provider
- call the Alberta Health Services Addiction Helpline toll-free 24/7 at 1-866-332-2322
If you’re a partner
You can support a pregnant individual by not drinking alcohol during the pregnancy and having nonalcoholic options available at parties or celebrations.
Tobacco and tobacco-like products
- Effects of tobacco and tobacco-like products
- Second-hand smoke and vapour
- Third-hand smoke
- Benefits of quitting
- Quitting tobacco
In this Section:
Effects of tobacco and tobacco-like products
During pregnancy, the harmful chemicals in tobacco and in second- and third-hand smoke can pass through the placenta to your baby. These harmful chemicals can cause a higher risk of miscarriage, preterm labour or other problems during pregnancy. They can also affect your baby’s growth and development before birth and lead to things like low birth weight, cleft lip, cleft palate and heart defects. Babies and children are more likely to have health problems, such as respiratory illnesses, ear infections, behavioural concerns and learning disabilities like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These chemicals also greatly increase your baby’s risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
The best way to protect your unborn baby from being exposed to the harmful effects of nicotine and other chemicals is to keep your home, vehicle and workplace tobacco-free.
Stress and quitting tobacco
Stress caused by quitting tobacco can be managed and will not hurt your unborn baby. Ask your health care provider for help.
Tobacco and tobacco-like products can affect your health and your baby’s health and brain development:
- Tobacco smoke has about 7,000 different chemicals in it. Of these chemicals, at least 172 are toxic (poisonous). About 70 of them cause cancers like lung and breast cancer as well as other illnesses such as heart and lung disease.
- Smokeless tobacco (moist snuff, dip or chew) and tobacco that’s used up the nose (dry snuff or snus) has more than 4,000 chemicals in it. Of these chemicals, more than 30 cause cancer, including mouth and throat cancers. Snuff products have more nicotine in them than cigarettes. The average cigarette has 8.4 mg of nicotine while the average moist dip product has 14.5 mg of nicotine.
- Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are battery-powered vapourizers that use liquid vapour to deliver mist into the body (vaping). The mist is often a mixture of chemicals and sometimes contains nicotine. E-cigarettes contain at least 10 chemicals that are linked to cancer and birth defects. E-cigarettes could put you at risk of nicotine addiction and are not recommended as an aid to quitting tobacco.
Second-hand smoke and vapour
Second-hand smoke is the smoke that’s exhaled or that comes from the burning end of a tobacco product like a cigarette. It’s a serious health concern for females and children during their reproductive years. Being exposed to second-hand smoke puts you at risk for breast cancer, asthma and heart disease. For babies, being exposed to smoke from tobacco before and after birth is also a major risk factor for SIDS and other health problems such as respiratory illnesses and ear infections in childhood.
Second-hand vapour is the mist produced by e-cigarettes. The mist that comes from an e-cigarette or vaping device has a mixture of chemicals that are toxic to you and your family. Although the toxins are lower than with tobacco smoke, there are at least 10 chemicals that cause cancer, birth defects and harm to you and your partner’s reproductive system.
While most workplaces in Alberta have to be smoke-free, you may still notice second-hand smoke at your workplace. You may want to speak with your employer about making your workplace 100% smoke-free.
If you’re a partner
Keep your home and vehicle smoke-free. If you’re using tobacco, try to cut down and quit. If you’re not ready to quit, smoke or vape outside to support the health of your pregnant partner and baby.
Third-hand smoke
Third-hand smoke is the residue and gases that are left behind after a cigarette has been used. They build up over time in vehicles and on surfaces such as upholstery, clothing, draperies and carpets. Research is still needed to understand the impact of vaping related to third-hand exposure.
Benefits of quitting
Quitting tobacco as soon as you can during pregnancy is healthier for you and your baby. Quitting will improve the health of your heart and lungs, which will be working extra hard during pregnancy. It will also improve your overall health right away and over time, reducing your risk of cancer and other tobacco-related diseases.
If you quit smoking during pregnancy, your baby has a better chance of being born at a healthy weight. A smaller baby does not mean an easier labour and birth. Smaller babies are more likely to have health issues and may have to stay in the hospital longer. If you do not think you can stop using tobacco all at once, try cutting down on the amount you use in a day. Feel good about doing the best that you can.
If you quit using tobacco and are not exposed to smoke in pregnancy, this will increase the amount of nutrients and oxygen your baby gets during pregnancy. This will decrease your:
- risk of miscarriage
- risk of preterm birth
- risk of having a baby with a low birth weight
- baby’s risk of SIDS
- baby’s risk of birth defects like cleft lip and heart defects
- baby’s risk of childhood and learning problems
It’s just as important to be tobacco-free after your baby is born. Quitting and staying tobacco-free can reduce your child’s risk of respiratory illnesses such as chest colds, asthma and ear infections.
Your lifestyle is important
Pregnancy is an important period of growth and development for your baby. Your lifestyle can affect your baby’s physical and brain development. What you do matters. When you do what you can to be healthy, you give you baby the best chance for lifelong health.
Quitting tobacco
Quitting tobacco can be very challenging. Many people have to try many times, and you may find that is also true for you. Each time you try, you’ll learn new things that will help you for the next time. This may include learning what your triggers are. Just keep trying!
Quitting may take some time. Believe you can do it! If you do not think you can stop tobacco all at once, start by cutting back the amount you use every day.
When you’re getting ready to quit, think about having your teeth cleaned to remove the stains and products of using tobacco. This will help your gums heal—it may even help motivate you to stay tobacco-free.
During pregnancy, counselling is the recommended treatment for quitting tobacco. For some expectant parents, the physical and emotional side-effects of quitting can be too hard to face with counselling alone. If you need other products such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or other medicine, talk with your health care provider or pharmacist to be sure using medicine is the safest, least harmful choice for you and your baby.
If anyone in your family uses tobacco or tobacco-like products, try to cut down and quit together. If they are not ready to quit, ask them not to smoke or vape around you and to smoke or vape outside. If they will not go outside, leave the room when they smoke or vape. Talk with your health care provider for support to work towards clean air in your home and vehicle. Try to work together to support one another to make healthy changes together.
Benefits of quitting
Quitting tobacco improves your health right away and reduces your risk of cancer over time. It also reduces your chances of getting other disease caused by tobacco use.
It may help you stay tobacco-free if you:
- Think about why it’s important for you and your family’s health.
- Remember what you do not like about using tobacco.
- Know who you can count on for support.
- Try to limit your time with people or places that make you want to use tobacco.
- Find healthier ways of coping with stress.
- Think about the financial benefits of not smoking.
If you want help to quit and stay tobacco-free:
- Talk with your health care provider.
- Call the AlbertaQuits helpline toll-free at 1-866-710-QUIT (7848) to talk with trained counsellors.
- Find a support person.
- Go to a tobacco cessation group, like QuitCore, in your area.
To learn more about how to quit and stay tobacco-free, the benefits of quitting, and how to keep your home and vehicle smoke-free, visit AlbertaQuits.
Cannabis
Expectant parents should not use cannabis (marijuana, hashish, hash oil). You and your baby’s health can be affected by using any type of cannabis. The dried flowers, leaves, stems and seeds of cannabis are called marijuana, weed, pot and other names. Hashish and hash oil also come from the cannabis plant. The cannabis plant contains more than 400 chemicals. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main active chemical in the cannabis plant that gives people who use it a ‘high’. THC affects areas of the brain that control memory, concentration, and coordination. Cannabidiol (CBD) is an active chemical in the cannabis plant that’s used for medicinal purposes. The levels of THC and CBD vary depending on the plant strain used. Some forms of cannabis can have very high levels of THC. Using cannabis may also cause other side-effects. It can:
- impair your short-term memory
- cause you to make poor decisions
- affect your coordination
- increase anxiety or paranoid thoughts
- increase your heart rate
During pregnancy, the placenta and umbilical cord connect you and your baby. The chemicals in cannabis can pass through the placenta to your developing baby and may affect their health and development.
Developing babies exposed to cannabis are at higher risk for low birth weight. After they’re born they might not be able to self-soothe and may have problems with sleep. There may also be long-term effects such as:
- abnormal brain development
- slower growth
- learning disabilities and behaviour concerns
Until more is known about the short- and long-term effects of cannabis on babies and children, it’s safest to avoid using cannabis while pregnant. Talk with your health care provider for information on cutting down and quitting if you’re using cannabis. If you use cannabis for medical reasons, talk with your health care provider about finding a safer alternative while pregnant.
To learn more about cannabis, visit MyHealth.Alberta.ca – Cannabis.
Learn more about cannabis and breastfeeding.
Medicine, supplements and herbal products
- Creating a Medlist
- Prescription and over-the-counter medicine
- Herbal products and other natural remedies
In this Section:
Creating a Medlist
Talk with your health care provider about any medicine, vitamin and mineral supplements or herbal products that you’re taking or planning to take. These products can affect your health and the health of your baby as they can pass through the placenta to your developing baby. Some medicine, supplements and herbal products can cause birth defects.
Bring a list of all the medicine, supplements, or herbal products that you’re taking when you visit your health care provider. Ask your health care provider if you still need all of the items on your list. Your health care provider can discuss with you the safety of the products you’re taking and provide recommendations. Take medicine as prescribed. If your health care provider recommends any non-prescription medicine, take only what you need in the smallest amount possible. To learn more about how to create a Medlist, visit Alberta Health Services – Know Your Medications.
Never assume it’s safe
Talk with your health care provider before taking any medicine, vitamin and mineral supplements or herbal products. Never take a prescription medicine that is not yours.
Prescription and over-the-counter medicine
Prescription and over-the-counter medicine, like pain relievers and antacids, can also affect your baby’s health if you take them while you’re pregnant. As soon as you think you might be pregnant, talk with your health care provider about any prescription and over-the-counter medicine you take, or plan to take, and ask about possible side-effects. They can tell you whether it’s safe to keep taking the medicine or may suggest a safer one.
Some prescription medicines that cause birth defects are:
- Accutane® (acne medicine)
- Warfarin and Coumadin® (blood thinners)
- Valproic Acid (seizure medicine)
To protect your baby:
- Tell all your health care providers that you’re pregnant.
- Do not take any over-the-counter medicine until you talk with your health care provider or pharmacist.
- Read the label and follow the directions carefully.
- Pay attention to your body when you take any medicine and talk with your health care provider if you have any side-effects.
There are many ways to help with common pregnancy discomforts such as headaches, backaches, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, nausea and vomiting.
Sometimes the benefit of taking a prescription medicine outweighs the risks to the developing baby. For example, if you’re taking a prescription medicine for high blood pressure, epilepsy or depression, your health care provider will talk with you about why it’s important to continue taking this prescription medicine during your pregnancy—or change to another one.
Before you stop
Talk with your health care provider before stopping any prescription medicine.
Herbal products and other natural remedies
Herbal products and other natural remedies are chemicals that can act like medicine in your body. Some can interact with each other and produce harmful effects when taken together. Talk with your health care provider or pharmacist before you take any herbal products, traditional medicine or natural remedies. Some may not be safe to take while you’re pregnant.
Herbal and natural remedies are readily available at stores and even farmer’s markets. If you choose to use them, buy them from a regulated Canadian producer.
If you have any questions, talk with your health care provider or call Health Link at 811.
Multivitamins
Healthy eating and taking a daily multivitamin with folic acid in it are important during pregnancy. See important vitamins and minerals to learn more about choosing a multivitamin.
Other drugs
Expectant parents should not use other drugs, such as fentanyl, ecstasy, methamphetamines, cocaine, and heroin. Just as with cannabis, these drugs can pass through the placenta to your developing baby and may affect their health and development. Developing babies who’ve been exposed to these drugs are at risk for problems like:
- birth defects
- the placenta separating from the uterus before birth
- preterm birth
- low birth weight
After these babies are born, there can also be long-term effects for them such as:
- abnormal brain development
- slower growth
- learning disabilities and behaviour concerns
These drugs can also affect how you think and make decisions, putting both you and your baby at risk. There may also be an increased risk for overdose and unsafe situations that can lead to physical injury and harm.
To learn more about cannabis and other drugs, and cutting back and quitting, call the Addiction Helpline available 24/7 toll-free at 1-866-332-2322, or visit Alberta Health Services – Addiction & Mental Health.
Albertans can also access the Opioid Recovery Program anywhere in the province – call 1-844-383-7688 for resources and supports in your community.
Exposure to even a tiny amount of drugs can make your baby or child very sick or cause death
Exposure to even a tiny amount of any drugs, including ecstasy, methamphetamines, cocaine, heroin and fentanyl can make your baby or child very sick or cause death.
Exposure can happen in different ways, like:
- breathing in second-hand smoke or vapour from drugs
- being exposed through breastfeeding or breastmilk
- transferring from clothing, hands, or skin to a baby or child’s body, toys, soothers, bottles, and other items
- during diaper changes
- accidentally eating or touching drugs
Babies and children are in contact with their caregivers and everything in their environment, so exposure can happen in many places, like:
- in your home and other homes
- in vehicles
- in public places
- in parks and playgrounds
Keep all drugs and drug-related items, like bongs, pipes, lighters, needles, spoons, and fentanyl patches, locked up, out of sight, and out of reach of children. Anyone who comes in contact with drugs or drug-related items should:
- wash their hands before handling or feeding a baby or child
- wash their hands before touching toys or other items
- change their clothes before handling a baby or child
Call 911 NOW if you think your child has been exposed to drugs.
Death from exposure to opioids is preventable. If you think a baby or child has been exposed to opioids like heroin or fentanyl, naloxone is safe to give to anyone at any age.
If you’re concerned about your own or someone else’s drug use, talk with your healthcare provider. You can also call the Addiction Helpline anytime, day or night, at 1-866-332-2322, or visit Alberta Health Services – Addiction & Mental Health.
Albertans can also access the Opioid Recovery Program anywhere in the province. Call 1-844-383-7688 for resources and supports in your community.