Tommy's promotes tips on lifestyle: HealthyPregnancy

National Pregnancy Week

One quarter of pregnant women still smoke throughout their pregnancy according to research released in a survey on the first day of National Pregnancy Week yesterday. The survey, commissioned by the week's organisers, Tommy's Campaign, SHE Magazine's Having a Baby and Tesco, also shows that one in three mothers to be is unaware of the importance of taking a folic acid supplement before she conceives, as it can reduce the risk of spina bifida, and other birth defects that occur early in pregnancy. One third of women do not plan their pregnancy, according to the survey, which means that they cannot maximise the opportunity of having a healthy pregnancy.

In order to promote a healthier pregnancy, the organisers of National Pregnancy Week are publishing an information leaflet. This will be available through GP's surgeries, health centres, and Tesco stores and was compiled with the help of the Royal College of Midwives.

It includes a card with their tips to help mothers-to-be to have a healthy pregnancy, including advise on diet, smoking, folic acid, exercise, alcohol, foods to eat and ones to avoid and toxoplasmosis.

Tommy's Campaign are also organising an international medical conference in London this week on "The Problem with Prematurity" which is concentrating on why 40,000 babies are born prematurely each year in the UK. Tommy's Campaign was founded to fund research into this problem and into why one- in-four pregnancies ends in miscarriage and one-in-150 babies are lost through still birth every year in the UK. The UK has nearly the highest premature birthrate in Europe and the aim of this first National Pregnancy Week is to ensure that this situation improves in the future.