A new campaign to highlight the growing incidence of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder [FASD] among children and new born babies has been launched today by The FASD Trust, the UK’s leading charity for the condition. The campaign which has been launched to coincide with FASD day on 9th September, aims to drive home the message that women should stop drinking alcohol completely during pregnancy, in the line with the latest government guidelines.
The campaign which will carry the message, ‘My Baby’s Too Young to Drink’ will target midwives and health professionals, on the basis of soon to be released research carried out by The FASD Trust, that shows the critical part midwives can play in influencing women during their pregnancy. Midwives will each receive a poster warning of the dangers of drinking during pregnancy, as well as further information about Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, resources to help boost awareness, and a helpline number for support.
The campaign is being backed by a group of 23 MPs including Marie Rimmer, Labour MP for St Helens South and Whiston and Nigel Huddleston, Conservative MP for Mid Worcestershire. 16 of the MPs have committed to take this important message to their local hospital on the day of the 9th September 2016, FASD Day, and meet with doctors and midwives on the frontline. The full list of MPs is as follows:
Marie Rimmer St. Helens South and Whiston
Nigel Huddleston Mid Worcestershire
Andrew Smith Oxford East
Tim Loughton East Worthing and Shoreham
Sam Gyimah East Surrey
Miles Briggs Lothian
John Glen Salisbury
Daniel Zeichner Cambridge
Alison Thewlis Glasgow Central
Roberta Blackman City of Durham
Julian Brazier Canterbury
Ben Bradshaw Exeter
Craig Williams Cardiff North
Bill Esterson Sefton Central
Andrew Turner Isle of Wight
Peter Bottomley Worthing West
Fiona Bruce Congleton
Graham Evans Weaver Vale
Derek Twigg Halton
Kelvin Hopkins Luton North
Andrew Gwynne Denton & Reddish
Richard Bacon South Norfolk
Fiona MacTaggart Slough
Julia Brown, Joint CEO of the Oxford based charity, said;
"We believe that every mother wants the best for her children and so this campaign is designed to help pregnant women and those planning pregnancy understand the harm that can result if they continue to consume alcohol throughout their pregnancy.”