Midwives and other NHS staff have helped almost 15,000 mums-to-be in England quit smoking over just three years, new analysis shows today.
Latest figures show that the smoking rate for pregnant women at the time of birth fell to 9.1% in 2021-22, the lowest annual rate on record, and down from 10.6% prior to the NHS beginning to roll out its Long Term Plan in 2019.
Over the three years since March 2019, 14,758 fewer pregnant women were smokers at the time of birth than there would have been if that rate had stayed the same.
Smoking in pregnancy carries serious health risks. Carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke reduces the amount of oxygen getting to the placenta and baby, which can lead to women going into labour early as well as increasing the chance of miscarriage, stillbirth and sudden infant death.
Following the rollout of the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle, all pregnant women are offered electronic checks to test their exposure to carbon monoxide, which is a harmful chemical present in cigarette smoke.
The NHS’s Long Term Plan (LTP) builds on this success, ensuring all maternity services are able to offer all pregnant women who smoke specialist support to quit, with focused treatment which includes nicotine replacement therapy.
England’s most senior midwife said today that the action taken in maternity services is supporting new mums and their babies to lead healthier lives.
Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, Chief Midwifery Officer for England, said: “NHS maternity staff across England are working tirelessly to help mothers to give up smoking ensuring their babies get the very best start in life.
“Smoking can have devastating health implications for a mum and her baby, including increasing the risks of going into labour early, as well as an increased chance of miscarriage and stillbirth. This is why the support, that thousands of mothers have already taken up, to become smoke-free is so vitally important.
“From classes to help you stop to nicotine replacement therapy, the NHS Long Term Plan is rolling out action to help pregnant smokers quit, helping families lead healthier lives and crucially, cutting the risk of stillbirth, saving babies lives.”
