As in any alcoholic drink, beer is unsafe for mums-to-be. Alcohol can cross your placenta, affecting your baby's health and development. It can destroy your baby's brain cells and cause mental retardation or deformities. Alcohol in pregnancy can also lead to miscarriages.

Do not drink beer during the postpartum period. Alcohol impedes the body's recovery and it contains no nutrients that can benefit you or your baby.

Avoid drinking beer while breastfeeding. Alcohol can pass to your baby through your breast milk and can negatively affect your baby's health and development. If you have an occasional beer, do remember to pump and dump.

Beer is not suitable for babies under the age of 11 months, or of any age.