MORE than 1 in 20 mums-to-be in the South-West smoke cigarettes to relieve stress and drink alcohol during their pregnancy, according to a new survey.

The findings follow a survey of over 1,100 pregnant women by Tommy's, the baby charity and Johnson's Baby.

The survey coincides with the start of September - the 2007 Tommy's Pregnancy Health Month, designed to provide all the information that mums-to-be need in order to feel confident that they are doing all they possibly can to keep their baby healthy.

Results suggest that a massive 88% of women feel stressed during pregnancy - a period when its impact can be most damaging.

Philip Baker, Professor of Maternal and Fetal Health said: "Current research underway at the Manchester Unit of Tommy's indicates that significant levels of stress can limit the growth of the babies within the womb.

"The Tommy's study also suggests that stress increases the risk of pre-term labour, with this effect proving most serious when stress is experienced around the time of conception and in early pregnancy."

When asked what was the biggest cause of stress to women in the South-West: * One in four women stated changes to their body (27.5%) * One in five (20.9%) felt most stressed due to pressure in the workplace * One in 10 (9.9%) felt worried that their role in society had changed * One in 15 felt most stressed because of stopping smoking (6.6%) The results showed that many women in the region are resorting to behaviour that could have seriously detrimental effects on their child, such as: * One in 20 women (4.4%) smoked cigarettes as a way of relieving stress * One in 20 (4.4%) drank alcohol to ease stress during pregnancy.