A third of mums-to-be in Warwickshire continue smoking throughout their pregnancy

ONE in three pregnant smokers are putting their unborn baby’s life at risk by failing to quit the
habit.

Between April 2008 and March 2009, 247 pregnant women across Warwickshire tried to give up smoking through the NHS.

But a report from NHS Stop Smoking Services found that just 41 percent of them successfully quit, with 35 per cent failing to give up the habit.

The rest of the results were unknown.

Smoking during pregnancy means a baby is more likely to be born prematurely, have a low birth weight, poor lung function and smaller organs.

Smoking also increases the chance of miscarriage and morning sickness.

Jane Wright, manager of NHS Warwickshire’s Stop Smoking Service, said: “We want to help women to stop smoking as early as possible in their pregnancy but to do this they need support and to be able to talk about it.

“NHS Warwickshire’s Stop Smoking Service provides friendly, confidential advice and can support mums-to-be throughout their quit attempt, including the availability of home visits as well as free nicotine-replacement products.

“Pregnant women who smoke must remember that their unborn child’s heart and lungs are going to be made to work much harder.”

Figures from NHS Stop Smoking Services also showed the number of women nationwide who managed to quit smoking during pregnancy fell by 12 per cent in a year.

Of the 18,928 pregnant women who set a date to quit last year, 8,641 – less than half – were successful. This compares with 9,817 out of 18,977 the year before.

Janet Fyle, the Royal College of Midwives’ professional policy advisor, said: “It is disappointing to see the figures going in the wrong direction.

“There is ample evidence on the impact of smoking on the health of the pregnant mother and child, and we advise all women who are pregnant or trying to conceive to do their best to give up smoking.”

Despite the disappointing figures, Warwickshire Stop Smoking Service said it is continuing to see good results from people using its programme.

Last year 6,438 people set a quit date with the service. Of these, 3,280 were still non-smokers four weeks later.

In total, £74million was spent by NHS Stop Smoking Services last year to try and help people quit - equivalent to a cost per quitter of £219. This increased from £173 in the same period in 2007/08 and £160 in 2006/07.

Although more than 337,000 people successfully gave up smoking through the NHS in England last year, this was a drop of four per cent on the previous year, when record numbers quit as a ban on smoking in public places was introduced.

Tim Straughan, NHS Information Centre chief executive, said: “The report shows that fewer people successfully quit last year compared to 2007/08. However, 2007/08 saw the introduction of the ban on smoking in public places which would be expected to affect the number of quitters in that year.

“It is encouraging that more people quit smoking last year than in 2006/07, the year prior to the ban.”

To find out more about the NHS Warwickshire Stop Smoking Service call free on 0800 0852917, visit www.smokefreewarwickshire.org or text LIFE to 80800.