Alcohol and Pregnancy in Grand Rapids, Michigan

The most up‑to‑date medical research is clear: there is no known safe level of alcohol use during pregnancy. For families in Grand Rapids and across West Michigan, the safest choice is to avoid alcohol completely if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant.

This guide explains how alcohol affects pregnancy, what fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are, and where to find help in the Grand Rapids area.

Why Alcohol and Pregnancy Don’t Mix

No safe amount, no safe time

Healthcare providers at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health all follow national guidelines that recommend:

  • Do not drink alcohol if you are pregnant
  • Stop drinking as soon as you start trying to conceive
  • Avoid alcohol while breastfeeding

Every pregnant person and every developing baby is different. Because there is no way to know exactly how much alcohol might cause harm, complete avoidance is the safest option.

How alcohol affects your developing baby

When you drink alcohol, it passes through your bloodstream, crosses the placenta, and reaches your baby. Your baby’s body cannot break down alcohol as well as yours can, so the alcohol level in your baby’s blood can be similar to your own.

Alcohol exposure during pregnancy can:

  • Harm your baby’s developing brain
  • Restrict physical growth
  • Affect organ development
  • Interfere with long‑term learning and behavior

Even low‑level drinking in the first trimester may cause long‑term effects, and often people do not yet know they are pregnant during this time.

Risks of Drinking Alcohol During Pregnancy

Risks to your baby

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy increases the risk of:

  • Slowed fetal growth
  • Low birth weight
  • Premature birth
  • Miscarriage (loss of a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy)
  • Stillbirth (baby born without signs of life after 24 weeks)
  • Birth defects and developmental problems
  • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

What is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)?

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a group of conditions that can occur in a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. FASD can include:

  • Physical differences (facial features, growth problems)
  • Learning disabilities
  • Attention and memory problems
  • Difficulty with impulse control and behavior
  • Problems with social skills and emotional regulation

There is no known safe level of alcohol that eliminates the risk of FASD. Because of this, public health experts in Michigan and across the U.S. recommend no alcohol at all during pregnancy.

Risks to the pregnant person

Alcohol use during pregnancy can also affect your own health. It may increase the risk of:

  • High blood pressure
  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Vomiting and dehydration
  • Worsening of existing mental health conditions (such as anxiety or depression)
  • Difficulty managing other pregnancy complications

In West Michigan, where winter can be long and dark, some people drink more socially or to cope with seasonal mood changes. If you are pregnant or trying to conceive, it is especially important to find alcohol‑free ways to manage stress, mood, and social situations.

Heavy Drinking vs. “Just a Few Drinks”

Heavy and binge drinking

  • Heavy drinking (drinking daily or most days)
  • Binge drinking (having several drinks in a short time)

These patterns carry the greatest risk for serious harm to your developing baby.

Low‑level drinking

Even one or two drinks a week may still cause damage. Research suggests that:

  • Low‑level drinking is not risk‑free
  • First‑trimester exposure may be especially harmful
  • There is no clear “safe” threshold

Because of this, doctors in Grand Rapids and nationwide recommend not drinking at all during pregnancy, rather than trying to limit or “cut back.”

What If I Drank Before I Knew I Was Pregnant?

Many people in Grand Rapids and across Michigan drink alcohol before they realize they are pregnant. The risk from early, low‑level drinking is not fully understood, but the recommendation is:

  • Stop drinking as soon as you find out you are pregnant
  • Do not panic, but do talk honestly with your healthcare provider
  • Your provider may review your drinking history and monitor your pregnancy more closely if needed

If you are worried about early pregnancy alcohol exposure, you can:

  • Talk to your OB‑GYN, midwife, or family doctor at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health
  • Contact the Kent County Health Department or Grand Rapids Public Health for guidance and referrals

Alcohol and Breastfeeding

Alcohol can pass into breast milk and may:

  • Affect your baby’s feeding patterns
  • Disrupt sleep
  • Impact early brain development

To reduce risks, major medical guidelines recommend that it is safest not to drink alcohol while breastfeeding, especially in the first months when your baby’s brain is rapidly developing.

If you do choose to drink while breastfeeding, talk with your healthcare provider about:

  • How timing feeds and drinks affects your baby’s exposure
  • Safer strategies to minimize risk

Alcohol, Sperm, and Fertility

Alcohol does not only affect the pregnant person. Alcohol use by the partner producing sperm can also impact fertility and the future child’s health.

Studies suggest that regular alcohol use can:

  • Reduce sperm quality and count
  • Lower the chances of getting pregnant
  • Increase the risk of developmental problems in the child (intellectual and physical)

For couples in Grand Rapids trying to conceive, both partners are encouraged to:

  • Reduce or stop alcohol use
  • Ideally avoid alcohol for about three months before trying to conceive

This gives time for new, healthier sperm to develop.

The Role of Partners, Family, and Friends

Pregnant people are less likely to drink alcohol when they feel supported. In Grand Rapids, where social events often include beer, wine, or cocktails, support from loved ones is especially important.

Ways partners, friends, and family can help:

  • Join in being alcohol‑free during the pregnancy
  • Choose alcohol‑free drinks at restaurants and gatherings
  • Host mocktail nights or alcohol‑free events
  • Avoid pressuring or teasing someone for not drinking
  • Offer to be the designated driver so alcohol is not the focus of social plans

Supportive partners and friends make it much easier to say “no thanks” and protect the baby’s health.

Getting Help to Stop Drinking in Grand Rapids

If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding and are finding it hard to reduce or stop drinking, you are not alone—and help is available in West Michigan.

Talk to your healthcare provider

Start with a trusted medical professional:

  • Your OB‑GYN, midwife, or family doctor
  • A provider at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health
  • A clinician at a community health center in Grand Rapids

They can:

  • Discuss your alcohol use without judgment
  • Help you create a plan to reduce or quit
  • Refer you to counseling, support groups, or treatment programs

Local and regional resources

In and around Grand Rapids, you can also reach out to:

  • Kent County Health Department
    For information on pregnancy, substance use, and local programs.

  • Grand Rapids Public Health / community health clinics
    For screenings, counseling, and referrals.

  • Behavioral health and addiction services at major hospital systems
    Many local hospitals offer outpatient and inpatient programs for substance use.

If you prefer, you can ask your provider specifically for confidential alcohol and drug counseling resources in Grand Rapids or West Michigan.

Key Points About Alcohol and Pregnancy in Grand Rapids

  • There is no safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy.
  • The risk to your developing baby is highest when you frequently drink high levels of alcohol or binge drink.
  • Even low‑level drinking can potentially harm your baby, especially in the first trimester.
  • Alcohol use during pregnancy can cause Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and other lifelong physical, mental, behavioral, and learning problems.
  • Drinking while pregnant can also harm your own health, including high blood pressure and nutritional deficiencies.
  • If you drank before you knew you were pregnant, stop as soon as you find out and talk with your healthcare provider.
  • Partners and family support can make it much easier to avoid alcohol.
  • In Grand Rapids, you can get help through your doctor, midwife, local hospital system, or public health services.

If you live in Grand Rapids or West Michigan and are concerned about alcohol and pregnancy, reach out to a local healthcare provider. Early support can protect both your health and your baby’s future.