MATERNITY staff at The James Cook University Hospital are holding a market place event to highlight the dangers of drinking during pregnancy.

The public health market place is being held to mark International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Day.

FASD, which is a lifelong disability that has no cure but it is preventable, is a spectrum of behavioural, emotional, physical and neurological issues that are caused by the consumption of alcohol on a developing foetus during pregnancy.

Kay Branch, midwife consultant for public health at the trust said: “The aim is to showcase the very latest information from the world of maternal public health and we are encouraging everyone with an interest in this area to come along whether they are mums-to-be, local councillors, children’s centre workers or trust staff.”

The awareness day aims to promote the importance of not drinking alcohol during the nine months of pregnancy but the hospital’s market place event will focus on a range of public health issues.

There will be stalls and expert advice on obesity and weight management, smoking cessation, mental health, teenage pregnancy, infant feeding, health visiting, children’s centres, healthy start vitamins, holistic care and more.

The event takes place on Wednesday, September 9 from 9.30am to 4pm in the women and children’s conference room at James Cook and is open to health workers, maternity patients and anyone with an interest in maternal public health.

For more details call 01642-850850 and ask for extension 56396 or email kay.branch@stees.nhs.uk