Boozing during pregnancy danger booklet launched

A CROSS-BORDER health agency has issued a new pocket-sized boolet on boozing during pregnancy to coincide with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Day
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Sep 2013, 17:42 BST
A quarter of children born this year in Northern Ireland will live to be 100A quarter of children born this year in Northern Ireland will live to be 100
A quarter of children born this year in Northern Ireland will live to be 100

The guide is available throughout the health services and on relevant websites.

It is designed to help women to answer such questions as: Can I drink alcohol when I’m pregnant? What if I have been drinking alcohol before I knew I was pregnant? How does alcohol affect the unborn baby? The guide also explains Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and the range of problems this can cause.

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Cathy Mullan, Lead for Alcohol and Drugs (Children, Young People and Families) with the Public Health Agency said: “The Public Health Agency is very pleased to support CAWT in the development of this leaflet, which a much needed resource for women on both sides of the border.

“I believe it is important that every future parent knows that they can give their child 100 per cent protection against alcohol related harm simply by avoiding alcohol in pregnancy. The message isn’t just for pregnant women.

“Partners and friends also need to understand the risks to the unborn child and offer support to make avoiding alcohol as easy as possible.”

Edel O’Doherty from CAWT said: “CAWT, as the cross border partnership for the health services, is delighted to support this all-island initiative and welcomes the collaborative working by agencies in both jurisdictions in developing this useful guide on alcohol and pregnancy.”