From Mayo Today
Mayo ’s first Foetal Alcohol Awareness Day will take place next Friday, September 7th to spread the word that “Alcohol and Pregnancy Don ’t Mix ”. It will be launched at Mayo General Hospital Foyer at 10:30 a.m. led by Edith Geraghty, Director WRDTF and Frances Burke, Childbirth Educator with the HSE. You are welcome to attend this launch. The awareness campaign is an initiative by Western Region Drugs Task Force, South West Mayo Development Company, Mayo General Hospital and HSE West Community Partners.
Nine balloons, representing the nine months of pregnancy, will be released to mark the start of the awareness day. International Foetal
Alcohol Awareness Day was first held on the 9th of the 9th 1999. September 9th remains the global day of attention for this critical issue.
Most recent medical evidence strongly suggests that it is the child ’s best interest for a woman not to drink at all during her nine months of pregnancy.
In Ireland, however, the majority of women continue to drink. A study of women attending the Coombe Women ’s Hospital (2006) found that almost two-thirds (63%) of those surveyed drank alcohol during their pregnancy. Only 13% stopped drinking completely.
“We know much more about the dangers of alcohol consumption during pregnancy now than we did before. This first Mayo awareness day is about getting the message out to women throughout the county that it ’s best to cut out drink completely and be sure that you are giving your baby the best start in life, ” said Frances Burke, Childbirth Educator.
