Fewer women are smokers when they have a baby in Herefordshire and Worcestershire

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Health

The latest figures from NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire show that fewer women are smokers when they have a baby.

Since April 2022, the number of women who smoke when their baby is born has fallen in Herefordshire and Worcestershire from 10.8% to 8.8%, which is just below the England average of 8.9%. This is a great improvement on previous years.

This means a healthier start for more babies being born in the two counties. 

Councillor Karen May, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Health and Well-Being at Worcestershire County Council, said: "These figures are really encouraging because reducing smoking can make a big difference to the health of mums and their babies. However, we can’t be complacent and must work to ensure this reduction continues.

The County Council’s Public Health team here have been working hard with our NHS colleagues to achieve this and I am really positive about what we can do in the future."

In Worcestershire, the work has included a unique Stop Smoking in Pregnancy Service within Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. A team of dedicated stop-smoking advisors that are available to support pregnant women and families in their home with one to one behavioural support and free nicotine replacement therapy.

Two new public health midwives have been employed to focus on improving health and wellbeing in pregnancy including working within maternity to decrease smoking rates. There has been a focus on supporting midwives to have routine conversations about smoking, taking carbon monoxide readings and referring women and families into the Stop Smoking Service.

The Stop Smoking Service and two new public health midwife posts have all been funded by Public Health in Worcestershire.

Linda Haynes, a Public Health Specialist Midwife said: "I am extremely proud of our team and the support we give people to stop smoking which is centred around the unique needs of each individual.

“We help people with a 12-week stop smoking plan, which is agreed on a one to one basis, and can be adjusted and tailored for everyone meaning people have a genuine choice during discussions with the stop smoking advisors.”

A pregnant lady who recently benefitted from the support the service offers, said*:

“I have smoked since I was 14 years old and was smoking 10-15 roll ups a day at the start of pregnancy.

“I had tried quitting in the past with support from a practice nurse and using refillable vapes but was unable to quit.

“I could tell straight away this was going to be a different support service to what I had experienced in the past. I didn’t feel any pressure to quit, I felt the appointment was personal and I wasn’t just a number in a line of people to be seen.

“It was nice knowing that I could contact my maternity stop smoking advisor if I felt I was having any wobbles.

“Before pregnancy I had high blood pressure but since quitting smoking my blood pressure is now normal.

“I would highly recommend any smoking pregnant woman takes up the maternity stop smoking support, I am so grateful to my advisor who I can only describe as amazing.”

*The complete transcription of this person’s experience of Worcestershire’s Stop Smoking in Pregnancy Service is available to read by clicking on the drop down panel.

Councillor Karen May added: "If somebody reads this or hears about it and is worried about smoking while pregnant, they can access support through their midwife. It's free and available to the whole household."

An enhanced programme of training to help midwives to support women to improve their health and wellbeing during pregnancy will be rolled out later this year.

Anyone who is pregnant and lives in or receives midwifery care in Worcestershire can access stop smoking support by emailing: wah-tr.smokingcessationteam@nhs.net or calling Heidi Hulbert, 07568 601709 (Kidderminster & Malvern); Shelley Halford, 07568 601710 (Redditch & Bromsgrove); Liz Hammond, 07568 601711 (Worcester & Wychavon).

A user’s experience of Worcestershire’s Stop Smoking in Pregnancy Service

“I have smoked since I was 14 years old and was smoking 10-15 roll ups/day at the start of pregnancy.

“I had tried quitting in the past with support from a practice nurse and using refillable vapes but was unable to quit.

“When I found out I was pregnant I did try and reduce smoking but couldn’t cut it out completely.

“When I saw the Community Midwife at my first appointment she referred me to the maternity stop smoking support service. I felt reluctant about this and felt like I wouldn’t be able to quit even though I wanted to.

“I also thought it would be the same as previous experiences of support to quit and wouldn’t be told anything new. I also felt like I wouldn’t be able to quit even though I wanted to.

“I had a phone call from the maternity stop smoking advisor who explained the support on offer and she arranged to come and see me at home.

“I could tell straight away this was going to be a different support service to what I had experienced in the past. I didn’t feel any pressure to quit, I felt the appointment was personal and I wasn’t just a number in a line of people to be seen.

“I set my quit date for 2 weeks later and tried reducing first. My stop smoking advisor was due to go away and I decided I wanted to have quit by the time she came back so decided to bring my quit date forward (so her going away actually motivated me even more!)

“I was offered nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and opted to try the patches and the spray. I did find I felt sick whilst using the patches so my advisor suggested a lower dose patch. The first couple of weeks were hard I did have cravings but with my advisor’s support managed to stay on track.

“It was nice knowing that I could contact my maternity stop smoking advisor if I felt I was having any wobbles. I had contact from her weekly which was nice to know even after I had quit she was still invested in me and was there to support my continuance of the quit. If she saw me in the clinic she would always say Hi and ask how I was doing which felt really nice and personal.

“She was also able to support my partner to quit smoking, he hasn’t need nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) but he has used the advice given as part of the support. I know if my partner was still smoking and there was still tobacco in the house I would have found it even more difficult. If I do get a nicotine craving which isn’t often I do use a vape.

I am now 38 weeks pregnant and have been quit for 182 days. The app has also been useful in keeping me motivated and the badges the app reward you at different points.

I was the only member of my immediate family to smoke and they thought I wouldn’t be able to quit so are amazed and proud that I have.

Before pregnancy I had high blood pressure but since quitting smoking my blood pressure is now normal. I have always been worried about putting weight on previously if I quit smoking but that pressure has been taken off me quitting whilst pregnant.

I would highly recommend any smoking pregnant woman takes up the maternity stop smoking support, I am so grateful to my advisor who I can only describe as amazing and would give her support 11/10.”