13% of expectant mums put unborn babies at risk by smoking

NUMBERS IN NOTTS ARE HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE

FIGURES have revealed that Nottingham and Nottinghamshire has the third highest percentage of pregnant smokers in the East Midlands.

It comes after data from the NHS revealed that women who gave birth in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Heatlh and Care facilities are some of the most likely to be smokers in the East Midlands.

The data shows that, from April 2021 to March 2022,there were 1,202 women in Nottinghamshire who were known to be smokers at the time of delivery.

This is equivalent to 13 percent of the total 9,380 births in the city and wider county and is higher than the national average of 9.1 percent across England.

Derbyshire had fewer known pregnant smokers at 1,138, but a higher percentage (15 percent).

Lincolnshire also recorded 15 percent of all births in the area from a smoker, or 931 out of 6,338 births.

Northamptonshire had 858, while the lowest rate in the East Midlands was in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland where 832 women were known smokers at the time of delivery.

They were also the only place in the region to match the national percentage. All others were higher than the national average.

A spokesperson for Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust said: “Our maternity service works in partnership with our Stop Smoking Services to give support and advice to families, to help them stop smoking and to reduce smoking during pregnancy.

“Every year we help hundreds of families achieve this with the aim of preventing the damage that smoking causes.”

The NUH Trust said that as a percentage, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are one of the areas in the region with a high “Smoking at time of delivery” rate, however this is lower than Lincolnshire (13 percent compared to 15 percent).

There is a “no smoking” policy at all

Nottingham University Hospital sites for patients, visitors and staff.

In 2019, the Government proposed that England should be “smoke free” by 2030 and the NHS have an ambition for the reduction of Smoking in pregnancy in its long term plan.

Hazel Cheeseman, deputy chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health said: “Smoking during pregnancy is a leading cause of stillbirth, miscarriage and birth defects. Growing up in a house with smokers also puts children at greater risk of smoking themselves.

“Pregnant smokers should get support and medication to help them quit and this support is being stepped up through a new NHS programme.

“While this is welcome smoking rates remain far higher than Government target of 6 percent. Government must implement the recommendations of a recent independent review of smoking, including providing financial incentives to help women to stop smoking in pregnancy.” The NHS Start for Life scheme helps advise women to give up smoking during pregnancy.

Its online advice said: “It’s hard to imagine when you can’t see your baby, but everything you breathe in passes through to your baby (including secondhand smoke). Each cigarette contains more than 4,000 chemicals. “When you smoke, carbon monoxide and other harmful toxins travel from your lungs, into your bloodstream, through your placenta and into your baby’s body.

“When this happens, your baby struggles for oxygen. When your baby can’t get enough oxygen, this affects their development.

“Whether you’re pregnant or you’ve just found out you’re expecting, the sooner you quit, the better.

“Your local stop smoking service offers free, one-to-one advice, support and encouragement to help you stop smoking. You can also talk to your GP or midwife – they can talk you through the best treatments available.”

Smoking during pregnancy is a leading cause of stillbirth, miscarriage and birth defects

Hazel Cheesman