No Smoking Day: Support to quit smoking in pregnancy | Latest news

Tobacco dependency advisers at Nottingham’s hospitals are reaching out to maternity patients and their partners on this year’s No Smoking Day.

Nottingham has 8.8% of maternity patients who are smokers at the time of giving birth, compared to the national average of 6.5%*. The harmful chemicals in tobacco can increase the risk of having a small baby, a premature birth, and/or a stillbirth, and can cause health and developmental issues later in a baby’s life.

Specialist advisers will be manning a stand outside the antenatal clinic at Queen’s Medical Centre tomorrow, Wednesday 12 March.

“Giving every child the best start in life is a priority,” said Nazia Shafiq, Specialist Maternity Smokefree Adviser at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH)

“Around 20% of women and birthing people are exposed to secondhand smoke at home during pregnancy. Those who live with a smoker are six times more likely to continue smoking throughout their pregnancy and are also more likely to relapse after the baby is born, even if they’ve managed to quit. A partner’s support in creating a smoke-free environment can make a huge difference.”

Patients can ask their midwife to refer them to the specialist stop smoking team to discuss what support is available. Products include free vapes, patches, lozenges, and gum, and behavioural support is also available: people who get help are four times more likely to quit successfully.

Patient Sarah said she’d urge anyone who wanted to stop smoking to ask for help.

"There's so much help. You can do everything from home and get support over the phone. It’s all free and it’s been so easy.

"When I first met with my adviser, I thought I was going to be shouted at. But she was so friendly and down to earth, just a normal person trying to help people stop smoking and have healthier babies. She let me take it at my own pace - I couldn’t have done it without her.

"Since I gave up, I feel so much happier and healthier. I have more money to spend on my family and preparing for the new baby. It makes a big difference."

Nazia added: “Our promise to pregnant smokers is that the midwives, health visitors, and other healthcare professionals you meet during your pregnancy won't judge you for being a smoker. We will do everything we can to help you stop smoking.”

*figures from NHS England

·       NUH introduced its first Smokefree Engagement Workers in October last year. To date, they have observed 5,500 smokers on NUH grounds and engaged with almost 3,000, 76 of whom have accepted a referral for support to quit. So far, two have successfully quit.