Drymester: support for parents-to-be

Whether you're pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or helping someone who's pregnant, it’s important to know how drinking alcohol may harm your baby.

Why alcohol free is the safest choice

There's no known safe time or safe amount of alcohol to drink during pregnancy. The best and safest approach is not to drink any alcohol at all.

Alcohol goes straight into your growing baby’s blood system. It can harm their brain and nervous system and can cause a condition called Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). You can find more information about FASD on the Drymester website.

If you've already drunk alcohol while pregnant, try not to worry. The most important thing is to stop now. It’s never too late to make a change to protect your baby’s health.

Important: If you suffer from symptoms such as shaking, sweating, or feeling sick and anxious before your first drink of the day, get medical advice before stopping alcohol. It can be dangerous to stop drinking suddenly without help.

Where to get support

If you need help to stop drinking during pregnancy, you’re not alone. Support is available in Stockport:

talk to your midwife or GP; they can give you advice that’s right for you
if you’re 26 or over, you can get help from START
if you’re under 26, you can get help from MOSAIC

Visit the Drymester website for more help and information.

Helping a pregnant partner

If your partner is pregnant, your support matters. To help, you could:

go alcohol free together: join the #DRYMESTER campaign and stay alcohol free throughout the pregnancy
speak up: help others understand that no amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy
offer choices: provide non-alcoholic drinks at social events
plan alcohol free activities: choose outings and experiences that don’t involve drinking

Learn more about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

You can find more information about FASD on the NHS website.

For local support, contact FASD Greater Manchester. This is a parent/carer led support group for families affected by FASD.