​Bury is supporting the #Drymester campaign

Bury is supporting the #Drymester campaign which helps parents-to-be to go alcohol free.

Set up by the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, it aims to spread awareness about the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

Current guidance advises that there is no safe time or safe amount of alcohol to drink during pregnancy. If you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all to keep risks to your baby to a minimum.

Drinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to the baby. When you drink, alcohol passes from your blood through the placenta and to your baby. Your baby cannot process alcohol as well as you can, and exposure to alcohol can seriously affect their development.

Drinking alcohol, especially in the first 3 months of pregnancy, increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and your baby having a low birthweight. Drinking after the first trimester could affect your baby after they are born. The effects can include learning difficulties and behavioural problems. The risks are greater the more you drink and can cause your baby to develop a condition called foetal alcohol syndrome which can impact on baby’s growth; lead to distinct facial features such as small eyes or a thin upper lip and cause learning and behavioural problems.

You can sign up today and gain access to all the resources, tips and advice on #Drymester, or how to support your loved one through pregnancy. For more information about going alcohol free and local support services, visit https://www.drymester.org.uk/.

Lesley Jones, Bury’s director of public health, said: “The harm caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy can become a lifelong issue for our children with an increased risk of disabilities.

“It is so important not to drink alcohol during this time and this campaign is a great opportunity to go alcohol free. You could even ask your partner, family or friends to support you and they can go dry too. There is a lot of support available.”

Councillor Andrea Simpson, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, added: “The Drymester campaign is a great way to raise awareness of the benefits to mum and baby of going alcohol free during pregnancy. We know that it has been a tough year for everyone, we have all had to distance ourselves from our families and friends and it has had an impact on us physically and mentally, so we need to take care of ourselves.

“Some of you may have spotted billboards around Bury about this campaign and we are proud that Bury is backing #Drymester. There is plenty of support available with tips and resources to help parents-to-be go alcohol free.”

The NHS website has more information about the risks of drinking alcohol while pregnant: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/alcohol-medicines-drugs-pregnant/

ENDS

Issued: 18 November 2020