The less alcohol you drink the better since alcohol passes through the placenta and affects your baby. No one knows how much alcohol is safe, but we do know that a high consumption of alcohol can affect your baby’s growth and can interfere with your baby’s ability to get enough oxygen and nourishment for normal cell development in the brain and other organs. Current guidelines say its safe to drink one or two units of alcohol once or twice a week but some experts advise cutting it out altogether.

Alcohol and pregnancy – One unit of alcohol is the equivalent of:

100 mls of wine (1 small glass)
100 mls of champagne (1 small glass)
300ml (1/2 pint) beer, larger or cider
1 pub measure of spirits
1 pub measure of sherry or liqueur

There are various causes of insomnia during pregnancy. The hormone that leaves women feeling weak during the day can also make it hard to sleep at night.
Tips for avoiding insomnia:
• Try to maintain a routine with a regular sleep and wake schedule
• Sleep in a quiet bedroom with a good mattress and comfortable pillow
• Use the bed only to sleep and not to read, watch television or work on a laptop
• Maintain a balanced diet
• Create a before bed routine like taking a shower, drinking a glass of warm milk or listening to calming music, which also benefits the baby
• Avoid stimulants like caffeine
• If you cannot fall asleep, get out of bed and try doing something else in a different room. When you feel tired again, return to bed.
• Try to sleep on your left side to improve blood pressure and this can help prevent swelling in the feet
• Do not drink a lot of liquid before going to bed