NHS Western Isles and the Outer Hebrides Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) organised a Pregnant Pause flashmob to promote Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day on Monday 9th September 2013 at 9.09am, for 9 minutes outside the Town Hall in Stornoway’s town centre.

Women with artificial pregnancy bumps ‘froze’ as statues for 9 minutes – representing the 9 months of pregnancy – to drive home the message that alcohol and pregnancy do not mix and raise awareness of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder which is the name given to a group of permanent conditions a person can have when they have been exposed to alcohol prenatally.

Chief Inspector Gordon MacLeod, Chair of the Outer Hebrides Alcohol and Drug Partnership, said: “The Pregnant Pause event is asking women to take a ‘pause’ in alcohol consumption from conception to delivery to guarantee no alcohol related harm to their baby.  Children affected by FASD tend to grow less well, may have physical disabilities and display a variety of learning difficulties and behavioural problems due to damage to the brain and nervous system.  Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is preventable.  If women do not drink alcohol during pregnancy their child will not be affected by FASD.”