A NEW campaign has been launched in Halton to warn pregnant women or those trying for a baby not to drink alcohol.

The health message shows a curled up foetus with the headline ‘please stop drinking mummy’.

It follows a rise in the number of children born with physical, learning and emotional problems as a potential result of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

It is believed that 6,000 babies a year in the UK are born with some form of damage as a result of alcohol.

Eileen O’Meara, director of public health at Halton Council, said: “Women are bombarded with information when they become pregnant and there are lots of mixed messages when it comes to alcohol advice, so we felt that we wanted to make things very simple.

“As experts say there is no guaranteed safe time or amount to drink during pregnancy, we felt that by providing the facts and dispelling the myths, ladies in Halton could make informed decisions about whether or not they will drink while they are either trying for a baby or are pregnant.”

The campaign comes as the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence released their official advice that abstinence is the only way to be certain that babies are not harmed.

Mrs O’Meara added: “If you cut down or stop drinking at any point during pregnancy, it can make a difference to your baby.

“However, in some instances, once the damage has been done, it cannot be reversed.

“If you have any questions or concerns about your alcohol consumption, talk to your midwife, GP or health visitor who can offer support and advice.”

Visit haltonhealthimprovement.co.uk for further information about alcohol in pregnancy.