One in five Telford women smoke through pregnancy

More than 18 per cent of mothers smoke up to the time of delivery in the Telford & Wrekin Borough, despite warnings that it will be harmful to the baby's health.

But despite the figure still being much higher than the national average of about 10.5 per cent, it has dropped since last year.

For 2016/17, 21 per cent of mothers-to-be were smoking when their babies were born.

Now the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust (SaTH) is looking to reduce it even further.

Deirdre Fowler, director of nursing, midwifery and quality at SaTH, said: "It is something I feel very strongly about, smoking in pregnancy is harmful to the baby's health.

"It does prove a real challenge in Telford.

"Clearly women have a choice themselves and we don't want to be forcing things on them or being patriarchal.

"We recognise that it is really really challenging to stop smoking so we want to give as much support as possible at the time."

Efforts to reduce instances of pregnant women smoking started about a year ago, when SaTH employed a public health midwife.

The midwife was given the specific job of reducing smoking during pregnancy.

Universal carbon monoxide screenings are available for all women.

And money boxes reminding pregnant mothers-to-be not to smoke will be available.

The money boxes are designed to have room for a scan picture and will show a message encouraging women to save the money they would have otherwise spent on cigarettes.

Elizabeth Duff, senior policy adviser for the National Childbirth Trust, said it was important to give up or cut down on smoking – and that doctors were there to help.

“For many women smoking can represent a brief escape from the pressures of everyday life and it can be really hard for women who smoke to adapt to pregnancy," she said. "However we do know that cigarettes restrict the essential oxygen supply to your baby so protecting your baby from tobacco smoke is one of the best things you can do to give your child a healthy start in life.

“It can be hard to admit to midwives or your doctor that you smoke, because there is so much pressure not to smoke when you’re pregnant. However they are there to help you, not to make judgments, and you are likely to find they are keen to give you support in stopping. Whatever stage of pregnancy you’re at, it is never too late to give up or cut down - you and your baby will benefit immediately. You can ask your midwife about the help available to stop smoking while pregnant, including your local NHS Stop Smoking Service.”