Alcohol Use in Pregnancy and Postpartum:
A HUB for Health Care Providers

Introduction

Alcohol use in pregnancy remains one of the most common preventable contributors to adverse perinatal outcomes in Canada. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) developed this Alcohol use in Pregnancy and Postpartum HUB to support evidence-informed, non-judgmental and practical clinical care across prenatal and postpartum settings.

Quick Start: What Providers Need to Know

This section provides a rapid clinical overview for busy providers. If time is limited, the points below summarize the essential actions that improve outcomes.

  • There is no safe amount or safe timing of alcohol use in pregnancy.
  • Screen all patients at the first prenatal visit and periodically thereafter.
  • Use validated tools (T-ACE, TWEAK, AUDIT-C).
  • Apply non-judgmental, trauma-informed communication.
  • Provide brief interventions — even 5–15 minutes can reduce use.
  • Continue screening and support postpartum (relapse is common).

Why This Matters

Alcohol exposure in pregnancy remains common despite public health messaging. Because alcohol is widely used and socially normalized, many pregnancies are exposed before recognition. Providers play a critical role in prevention, early identification, and intervention.

Alcohol crosses the placenta and affects fetal development at all stages. Prenatal alcohol exposure can result in lifelong physical, cognitive, and behavioral effects, including Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

  • 10–15% of pregnant individuals report alcohol use during pregnancy.
  • Up to 62% report alcohol use in the 3 months prior to pregnancy.
  • Nearly 11% continue use into the first trimester.

Understanding prevalence contextualizes why universal screening is essential. Alcohol use during pregnancy is not confined to any single demographic group. It occurs across socioeconomic, geographic, and cultural contexts. However, stigma and fear of judgment contribute to significant underreporting, making a routine, normalized approach critical in all clinical encounters. Early pregnancy exposure frequently occurs before pregnancy recognition, highlighting the importance of preconception counseling and routine screening for all reproductive-aged women.

Universal screening, not risk-based screening, is essential.

Who Is at Increased Risk?

Alcohol use during pregnancy is influenced by intersecting biological, psychological, social, and structural determinants. Framing alcohol use solely as an individual behavior can reinforce stigma and obscure underlying drivers such as trauma, poverty, housing instability, racism, and gender-based violence. Identifying risk factors associated with alcohol use in pregnancy and during the postpartum period is not about profiling patients; it helps providers to anticipate barriers to care, tailor supports and integrate mental health and social services early. A risk-informed approach enhances equity and improves engagement and outcome.

Risk factors that may increase likelihood of alcohol use during pregnancy and postpartum include:

  • Age under 25
  • Late pregnancy recognition
  • Limited access to prenatal care
  • Fragmented continuity of care
  • Trauma exposure or intimate partner violence
  • Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or other mental health concerns
  • Polysubstance use
  • Poverty, food insecurity, unstable housing, or financial insecurity
  • Stigma or fear of child protection involvement

These factors are not diagnostic criteria. They signal the need for more frequent check-ins, and access to supports.

Effects on Maternal, Fetal, Neonatal and Child Health

Alcohol is a neurobehavioral teratogen that crosses the placenta and affects fetal organogenesis and brain development throughout pregnancy. Because neural development occurs across all trimesters, there is no safe timing for prenatal alcohol exposure. Effects are dose- and pattern-dependent, with binge drinking being associated with the highest risk. However, even low-level exposure may result in subtle or delayed neurodevelopmental symptoms. Providers should be equipped to discuss both immediate obstetric risks and long-term developmental implications in a clear, evidence-based manner.

The table below summarizes the effects of alcohol on maternal, fetal, neonatal, and child health outcomes associated with alcohol use during pregnancy.

Effects of Alcohol Use During Pregnancy

Maternal Health Effects

Fetal Health Effects

Newborn and Child Health Outcomes
  • Increased risk of pregnancy loss, stillbirth
  • Nutritional deficiencies (e.g., folate, thiamine)
  • Anemia and infections
  • Exacerbation of mental health conditions
  • Increased risk of trauma and unsafe behaviors
  • Obstetric complications (e.g., placental abruption, preterm labour)
  • Spontaneous abortion and fetal growth restriction (FGR)
  • Prematurity
  • Congenital anomalies (craniofacial, cardiac, renal)
  • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
  • Disrupted central nervous system (CNS) development
  • Low birth weight
  • Feeding difficulties, (e.g., poor suck reflex)
  • Sleep issues and irritability
  • Delayed motor, language, and cognitive milestones
  • Behavioural challenges, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)-like symptoms
  • Increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
  • Long-term risks for mental illness and justice involvement

 

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

FASD represents one of the most severe and enduring consequence of prenatal alcohol exposure. It is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition with significant individual, family, and societal impact. Many individuals with FASD do not present with recognizable facial features, leading to underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis. Early identification and multidisciplinary support significantly improve adaptive functioning and long-term outcomes.

Prevention through abstinence during pregnancy remains the only definitive strategy.

FASD affects at least 4% of Canadians and is a leading cause of preventable developmental disability.

Key features may include:

  • Facial features (short palpebral fissures, smooth or flattened philtrum, thin upper lip)
  • Learning and memory deficits
  • Executive dysfunction
  • Emotional dysregulation
  • Motor coordination difficulties
  • Adaptive functioning impairment
  • Mental health co-morbidities

Absence of facial features does not rule out FASD. Many individuals have invisible brain-based differences requiring multidisciplinary assessment.

For more information about FASD, including FASD diagnosis and prenatal alcohol exposure, visit The Canada FASD Research Network.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Identification, Assessment and Diagnosis Hub

The FASD IAD Hub is a centralized resource supporting health care providers in the early identification, assessment, and diagnosis of FASD, with additional resources for patients, caregivers, and families.

Click to Learn More

Screening and Identification

Universal screening is the foundation of prevention. Targeted screening based on perceived risk perpetuates bias and misses many patients. Validated tools are brief, non-confrontational, and effective in prenatal care settings. Normalizing screening as part of routine care reduces stigma and increases disclosure; screening should be integrated into standard prenatal care rather than targeted only to perceived “high-risk” patients.

Repeated screening across pregnancy and postpartum acknowledges that alcohol use patterns may change over time.

When to Screen

  • First prenatal visit
  • Once per trimester
  • Postpartum (6 weeks and beyond; additional touchpoints in the first year)

SOGC Guideline No. 405: Screening and Counselling for Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy provides detailed information. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has helpful information about screening for harmful alcohol use in women, including links to screening tools.

Normalize disclosure: “Many people drink before they know they’re pregnant. Can you tell me about your experience with alcohol?”

 

Validated Screening Tools for Alcohol Use in Pregnancy

Name

Description

Primary Population

Links

The 5Ps: Parents, Peers, Partner, Pregnancy, and Past

Screening tool that detects tobacco, alcohol, and drug use, as well as domestic violence among pregnant women and women of reproductive age.

Focus: Drug, alcohol, and tobacco use; violence

Pregnant women and women of reproductive age

5 Ps PSU Screening Tool

NIDA-Modified ASSIST: NIDA Quick Screen, Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test

Screening tools that detect alcohol, tobacco, and drug use; tools can be used sequentially based on the individual’s substance involvement score.

Focus: Drug, alcohol, and tobacco use

Adults including pregnant women

The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) Manual for use in primary care (World Health Organization)

Self-Help Strategies For Cutting Down or Stopping Substance Use (World Health Organization)

CRAFFT: Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Friends, Trouble

Screening tool that identifies alcohol, drug use and substance-related driving risk among adolescents and young adults.

Focus: Drug and alcohol use; driving risk

Women 26 years or younger

CRAFFT

CAGE: Cut down, Annoying, Guilt, Early-morning drink

Questionnaire that tests for alcohol use disorder and opens dialogue in adults. It is not used to diagnose the disease but only to show whether a problem might exist.

Focus: Alcohol use

Women

The CAGE Questionnaire for Alcohol Problems

T-ACE: Tolerance, Anger/annoyance, Cut Down, Eye-opener

Four-item screening tool that identifies risk-drinking in pregnant women. The T-ACE is more sensitive than the CAGE for detecting alcohol problems in pregnant women.

Focus: Alcohol use

Pregnant Women

The T-ACE Screening Tool

TWEAK: Tolerance, Worried, Eye-opener, Amnesia, Cut Down

Five-item instrument that screens for risk drinking among obstetric patients.

Focus: Alcohol use

Pregnant women

The TWEAK Screening Tool

AUDIT-C: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test

A questionnaire that screens for alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems.

Focus: Alcohol use

Adults including pregnant women

The AUDIT-C Alcohol Screening Tool

Decision Tree for Screening and Assessment

Brief Interventions and Motivational Interviewing

Brief interventions delivered using Motivational Interviewing (MI) are evidence-based and have been proven effective in pregnancy. MI respects patient autonomy and reduces resistance by exploring ambivalence rather than confronting behavior. Even short conversations (5–15 minutes) can meaningfully reduce alcohol consumption. Framing discussions around patient goals, such as healthy pregnancy outcomes, enhances intrinsic motivation.

The 5As Framework (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange) provides a simple structure to guide these conversations.


*adapted from Rahman et al, 2024.

Referral and Integrated Support

Some patients will require care beyond brief intervention. Early referral to addiction, mental health, and social services reduces complications and improves engagement. Multidisciplinary, wraparound care addresses the complex drivers of alcohol use, including housing instability, intimate partner violence, trauma, and food insecurity. Integrated models reduce fragmentation and minimize unnecessary child protection involvement.

Refer early when there is:

  • Moderate to severe alcohol use during pregnancy
  • Suspected Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
  • Withdrawal symptoms
  • Polysubstance use
  • Significant psychiatric comorbidity
  • Safety concerns

Engage multidisciplinary care:

  • Addiction medicine
  • Mental health services
  • Social work
  • Trauma and intimate partner violence (IPV) supports
  • Peer support programs

Caring for Patients Using Alcohol During Pregnancy

Culturally Safe and Anti-Stigma Care

Fear of judgment, stigmatization, or involvement with child protection services can discourage disclosure of alcohol use. This makes the patient’s trust in the relationship the cornerstone of effective care. In addition, Indigenous, racialized, and other marginalized communities may have also experienced historical and ongoing systemic discrimination within health and child protection services. These realities influence disclosure, engagement, and trust. Cultural safety requires providers to actively reflect on power dynamics, avoid stereotyping, use respectful language, and involve community-informed supports where appropriate. Equity-focused care improves both maternal and infant outcomes.

Clinical Tips

Build Trust

  • Use open-ended language
  • Normalize screening as routine care
  • Avoid punitive approaches
  • Validate incremental progress

Trauma-Informed Care

  • Assume trauma may be present
  • Prioritize safety and collaboration
  • Offer choice and autonomy
  • Ask about safety when appropriate

Cultural Safety

  • Avoid assumptions or stereotyping
  • Respect lived experience and patient priorities
  • Engage community-informed supports when possible

Support increases disclosure; fear decreases it.

Treatment and Interventions for Alcohol Use During Pregnancy

Treating alcohol use in pregnancy requires more than advising cessation. Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a chronic, relapsing mental health condition influenced by trauma, mental illness, and social determinants of health. Pregnancy can be a powerful motivator for change, but it can also amplify stress and vulnerability. Effective intervention integrates behavioral counseling, mental health care, social supports, and when necessary pharmacologic management. A recovery-oriented, non-punitive approach improves engagement and outcomes. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has helpful information on alcohol treatment.

Clinical Pearls:

  • Screen universally
  • Avoid assumptions
  • Small reductions matter
  • Continued engagement

Alcohol Use Disorder is a Mental Health Condition

AUD is a chronic mental health condition characterized by impaired control over alcohol use. Reframing AUD as a health condition reduces stigma and shifts clinical conversations from blame to treatment. Patients with AUD often experience shame and fear of child protection involvement, which can deter disclosure. Recognizing co-occurring psychiatric conditions and trauma histories is essential, as untreated mental health symptoms frequently drive continued alcohol use. Integrated care models that address addiction, social needs, and mental health concurrently are associated with improved maternal and neonatal outcomes.

AUD often coexists with depression, anxiety, PTSD, trauma histories and social instability.

Effective care integrates addiction treatment, mental health support, and interventions that consider social determinants of health.

Pharmacologic Management

Pharmacologic management in pregnancy requires careful risk–benefit analysis. Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening and must be managed medically. Nutritional deficiencies are common in heavy alcohol use and require correction. Relapse prevention pharmacotherapy is typically addressed postpartum with specialist consultation. Clear communication about risks, benefits, and alternatives is essential to shared decision-making.

The table below provides specific information about the pharmacologic management of alcohol use during pregnancy and in the post-partum period. The SOGC’s Guideline No. 349-Substance Use in Pregnancy provides additional information.

 

Pharmacologic Management of Alcohol Use During and After Pregnancy

Medication

Indication

Pregnancy Use

Breastfeeding Consideration

Comments

Benzodiazepines (e.g., lorazepam, diazepam)

Acute alcohol withdrawal

Use only in hospital settings; short-term, supervised use may be necessary

May cause sedation or withdrawal in newborn; use with caution

Recommended only when risk of withdrawal outweighs fetal risks

Thiamine (Vitamin B1)

Prevent Wernicke-Korsakoff encephalopathy

Safe and recommended

Safe

Should be initiated before reducing alcohol intake

Multivitamin Supplementation

Nutritional support in chronic alcohol use

Safe and recommended

Safe

May include folate, iron, and other micronutrients

Naltrexone

Alcohol dependence (postpartum)

Recommended only when risk of withdrawal outweighs fetal risks

Safe in non-breastfeeding individuals; limited data for breastfeeding

Can support relapse prevention postpartum

Acamprosate

Alcohol abstinence maintenance

Recommended only when risk of withdrawal outweighs fetal risks

Used postpartum if no breastfeeding; renal dosing required; very limited lactation data

May be considered for relapse prevention

SSRIs (e.g., sertraline)

Co-occurring depression/anxiety

Can be used with risk-benefit consideration

Generally compatible with breastfeeding

Preferred for perinatal depression; monitor infant for side effects

Relapse Prevention is Essential

Relapse should be anticipated and normalized as part of recovery. Framing relapse as a failure increases shame and disengagement from care. Early discussion of relapse risk allows proactive safety planning and rapid re-engagement if alcohol use resumes. Ongoing follow-up during the first postpartum year significantly improves outcomes.

Integrated Mental Health, Social, and Addiction Support

Alcohol use during pregnancy rarely occurs in isolation. Integrated care that addresses mental health, addiction, housing, safety, and social supports is more effective than siloed interventions. Coordinated communication between providers reduces gaps in care and improves continuity from pregnancy into the postpartum period.

Examples include:

  • Mental health care for depression, anxiety, PTSD, or trauma recovery
  • Addiction support, including counseling, withdrawal management, or outpatient treatment
  • Social services, including housing navigation, income support, food security, and intimate partner violence resources
  • Peer support programs, which can help reduce isolation and stigma

Sustained engagement, even without immediate cessation, improves long-term outcomes for both parent and infant.

Harm Reduction Approach

While abstinence is the safest recommendation during pregnancy, some patients may not be ready or able to stop immediately. Harm reduction strategies maintain engagement, reduce acute risk, and serve as a bridge to eventual cessation. A harm reduction framework does not replace abstinence as the goal; rather, it acknowledges clinical realities and prioritizes ongoing care over disengagement.

Strategies may include:

  • Reducing frequency or quantity of alcohol use
  • Avoiding binge drinking
  • Identifying triggers
  • Increasing follow-up
  • Addressing co-use
  • Connecting to social supports
  • Addressing trauma and safety

Harm reduction is a bridge toward cessation, not a replacement for it.

For more information about harm reduction, visit Guideline No. 405: Screening and Counselling for Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy - Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada. Also, the World Health Organization has a helpful guide on Self-Help Strategies For Cutting Down or Stopping Substance Use.

Decision Tree for Interventions

Postpartum Considerations

The postpartum period is marked by sleep disruption, hormonal shifts, caregiving stress, and loss of structured prenatal care. Relapse risk is high during this time. Continued screening and proactive support are essential to sustaining recovery and promoting safe parenting environments. Transition planning before delivery improves continuity of care.

Providers should screen regularly for mental health symptoms using validated tools such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 Scale (GAD-7) or the Personalized Health Questionnaire-9 and refer to appropriate perinatal mental health services, according to the SOGC Guideline No. 454: Identification and Treatment of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders. Addressing basic needs, such as housing, childcare, food security, safety, and trauma recovery, is often foundational to successful recovery and wellbeing. The SOGC’s Perinatal Mental Health HUB is a source of more information.

Alcohol and Breastfeeding

Patients frequently seek clear guidance on alcohol use during lactation. Providers should offer practical, evidence-based counselling that prioritizes infant safety while supporting lactation. Abstinence is the safest option. Guidance should avoid unnecessarily discouraging lactation when low-level exposure is unlikely to cause harm.

Key guidance includes:

  • Alcohol passes into breast milk at levels similar to blood alcohol concentration.
  • Peak levels occur 30–60 minutes after consumption and decrease over 2–3 hours depending on body weight and metabolism.
  • The concept of “pumping and dumping” is not required unless the breasts become engorged during high-level intoxication.
  • Breastfeeding should be delayed for at least 2 hours per standard drink to minimize infant exposure.

Chronic or heavy alcohol use is contraindicated in breastfeeding. Support for cessation or treatment should be prioritized, with lactation counseling included in the care plan.

Ongoing Engagement and Peer Support

Offer ongoing follow-up for up to 12 months postpartum, with routine touchpoints integrated into existing care, such as at infant vaccinations, maternal health check-ups, well-baby visits, and parenting support visits.

Peer support programs, including groups specifically for parents with substance use histories, have been shown to reduce relapse, decrease isolation, and improve parenting confidence.

When safe and appropriate, involve partners and household members in education and cessation if appropriate, to support a substance-free home environment.

Child Protection Services Considerations

Substance use in pregnancy may intersect with mandatory reporting requirements depending on jurisdiction. Providers must balance ethical, legal, and therapeutic responsibilities. Transparent communication, documentation of supportive interventions, and collaboration with social and community services can reduce adversarial dynamics and improve outcomes for families.

Best practices:

  • Prioritize engagement and support over surveillance
  • Document recovery efforts and explain confidentiality limits
  • Collaborate with social services and community supports
  • Understand local reporting requirements

Supportive relationships improve maternal and child outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

  • There is no safe amount or safe time to drink alcohol during pregnancy
  • Use compassionate, non-judgmental communication to support disclosure
  • Behavioral counseling and early screening are essential and effective
  • Integrate addiction care with prenatal, mental health, and social supports
  • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is preventable with early intervention and comprehensive care

This is a helpful tool for discussing alcohol use during pregnancy and for providing care.

Tools and Resources for Providers

Websites:

The SOGC HUB for Trauma and Violence-Informed Care
Practical guidance to help providers deliver safer, compassionate, and trauma- and violence-informed care.

The SOGC HUB for Virtual Care for Substance Use
Clinical resources to support accessible, patient-centred virtual care for substance use.

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Evidence-informed clinical tools, education, and treatment guidance for substance use and mental health care.

Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health
Gender-responsive resources and research to support trauma-, violence-, and equity-informed care.

Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
National evidence, policy, and practical resources on substance use, harms, and prevention in Canada.

Tools and Resources

Quick Reference Clinical Checklist: Alcohol Use in Pregnancy
An SOGC quick-reference clinical checklist that outlines trauma- and violence-informed, non-judgmental approaches to screening and discussing alcohol use in pregnancy.

Alcohol Use in Pregnancy: Clinical Quick Reference for Health Care Providers
An SOGC clinical quick-reference resource for health care providers that highlights key messages, screening tools, and risks related to alcohol use in pregnancy.

Clinical Practice Guidelines:

Counselling and Screening for Alcohol Consumption during Pregnancy (SOGC)

Recommendations for routine alcohol screening and brief counselling to support safer pregnancies.

Substance Use During Pregnancy (SOGC)

Evidence-based guidance to support the screening, assessment, and management of substance use during pregnancy.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: a guideline for diagnosis across the lifespan (CMAJ)

This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for diagnosing fetal alcohol spectrum disorder across the lifespan.

Webinars:

Impact of Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol and Nicotine
SOGC CME resource exploring the effects of prenatal exposure to alcohol and nicotine and the implications for clinical care.

Preventative FASD Education Event for Pregnancy Healthcare Providers
This webinar provides health care providers with education and tools to help prevent prenatal alcohol exposure.

International FASD Prevention Seminar Series
This seminar series brings together international experts to discuss research and strategies for preventing FASD.

CanFASD Dataform
An introductory video from CanFASD highlighting the organization’s work to advance research, awareness, and prevention of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in Canada.

Reports:

Canadian Medical Association - Virtual Care Playbook
The Virtual Care Playbook provides practical guidance to help physicians integrate virtual care safely and effectively into clinical practice.

Doorways to Conversation - Brief Intervention on Substance Use with Girls and Women 
Doorways to Conversation provides trauma-informed guidance to help service providers discuss substance use with girls and women.

Practical Approach to Substance Use Disorders for Family Physicians
Substance use disorders are commonly encountered in primary care and require a structured approach to screening, assessment, and management.

Trauma-Informed Practice Guide
A practical resource to help providers apply trauma-informed principles in mental health and substance use care, with concrete strategies for safer, more supportive practice.

Screening Tools:

Access to validated virtual screening tools (e.g., ASSIST, AUDIT-C, AUDIT -10, DAST (Drug Abuse Screening Test), TWEAK, T-ACE and 4Ps Plus ©), e-prescribing systems and scheduling platforms.

CRAFFT
A validated screening tool to help identify alcohol and substance use risks in adolescents and young people.

CAGE Questionnaire for Alcohol Problems
A brief four-question screening tool commonly used to identify possible alcohol-related problems.

Printable Resources and Posters:

Alcohol and Pregnancy Office Posters

The SOGC has developed new alcohol and pregnancy posters (11X16)  for health care providers to display in their clinics, helping raise awareness and support informed conversations with patients.

You are Not Alone - Poster 8.5 x 11
This SOGC poster encourages people experiencing substance use challenges during pregnancy to seek support and reminds them they are not alone.

Virtual Care for Substance Use Disorders During Pregnancy and Postpartum
A provider-facing resource on delivering accessible, stigma-aware virtual care for substance use disorders during pregnancy and postpartum.

CANFASD - 5 Things to Know About: Level 1 FASD Prevention
This resource outlines key messages related to universal approaches to FASD prevention.

CANFASD - 5 Things to Know About: Level 2 FASD Prevention
This resource highlights prevention strategies for individuals of childbearing age who may become pregnant.

CANFASD - 5 Things to Know About: Level 3 FASD Prevention
This resource focuses on prevention supports for pregnant individuals who are at increased risk of alcohol use.

CANFASD - 5 Things to Know About: Level 4 FASD Prevention
This resource describes specialized supports for pregnant individuals with alcohol use challenges.

Online Course:

Pregnancy and Alcohol
This SOGC online course provides information about the effects of alcohol during pregnancy and strategies to prevent prenatal alcohol exposure.

CanFASD Multidisciplinary Team Training for the Diagnosis of FASD
This online FASD course will assist professionals in learning the processes, procedures, and developing the skillset needed to be effective members of a multidisciplinary diagnostic team

Tools and Resources for Patients

Websites:

Alcohol and Contraception – Sex & U
A SOGC patient-friendly webpage on how alcohol can affect contraception choices and ways to reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy.

Alcohol, Sex, and Consent – Sex & U
A SOGC patient webpage on how alcohol can affect decision-making, physical responses, and consent during sexual activity.

Alcohol in Pregnancy – Pregnancy Info
A SOGC patient-facing webpage on the effects of alcohol in pregnancy and where to find support for reducing or stopping use.

Alcohol and Lactation – Pregnancy Info
A SOGC webpage for patients on alcohol use while breastfeeding, including tips to reduce exposure to the baby.

Substance Use in Pregnancy - Pregnancy Info
A SOGC patient webpage on the effects of substance use during pregnancy and available supports.

Get Help with Substance Use - Canada.ca
A national resource listing services and supports for people seeking help with substance use.

NORS - Virtual Safe Consumption
A virtual overdose monitoring service that helps reduce the risk of fatal overdose for people using substances alone.

Hope for Wellness Hotline
A crisis and mental health support line for Indigenous peoples in Canada offering immediate, culturally grounded assistance.

Podcasts

Alcohol and Pregnancy: Patient Experience and New SOGC Guideline

Alcohol and Lactation: Patient Experience and New SOGC Guideline

Drugs & Substance Use Archives - Mother to Baby
Mother to Baby provides evidence based information about the effects of medications, drugs, and other exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Tools and Resources:

Alcohol, Pregnancy and Lactation: What You Need to Know

An SOGC patient-facing handout on alcohol use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, including key risks, safer choices, and where to find support.

Download

How Does Alcohol Affect Thinking and Decision-Making?

An SOGC patient-facing handout on how alcohol can affect judgment, consent, and sexual experiences, with practical tips for safer, more respectful interactions.

Download

10 Commonly Asked Questions About Alcohol Use During Pregnancy
This SOGC resource answers common questions about alcohol use during pregnancy and its possible effects.

Finding Support: Compassionate Care Matters
An SOGC patient-facing handout that encourages people who use substances in pregnancy to seek kind, respectful care and connect with prenatal and community supports.

Nutrition and Substance Use in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
An SOGC patient-facing handout on nutrition, substance use, and practical ways to support health during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Alcohol, pregnancy, and prevention of FASD - What men can do to help
This resource explains how partners and families can help support alcohol free pregnancies.

Thinking about Pregnancy? A Booklet to Reflect on Alcohol Use before Pregnancy
This booklet encourages individuals to reflect on alcohol use when planning or thinking about pregnancy.

Women and Alcohol
This resource provides information about how alcohol affects women’s health and wellbeing.

Self-Help Strategies for Cutting Down or Stopping Substance Use
A World Health Organization (WHO) self-help guide with practical strategies for people working to reduce or stop substance use.

Apps:

iHEAL

iHEAL is a safety planning and support app designed for women experiencing violence or safety concerns.

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC)