Hundreds of mums-to-be still smoking when pregnant
Hundreds of mums-to-be are ignoring warnings and putting their unborn babies' lives at risk by smoking during pregnancy.
Startling statistics show that around one in six women in Portsmouth smoked during their pregnancies in 2008/09.
That equates to 425 women - the highest proportion of smoking mums-to-be Hampshire.
Sian Howells, Pompey Quit stop smoking service team leader, said: 'It is worrying and unfortunately we've not seen a big drop in the numbers over the years locally either.
'We do try and encourage women to give up smoking during pregnancy.
'At a woman's first midwife appointment they are advised to consider giving up.
'But although women want the best for their baby they sometimes don't take on this message, and tend to ignore the risks because they don't think it will happen to them.
'But sadly it could and we want to prevent that.'
Elsewhere, 13 per cent of pregnant women smoked in 2008/09 in Havant, Gosport and Fareham. This was below the England average of 14.6 per cent, while Portsmouth (16 per cent) was above the country's average.
The numbers of women smoking during pregnancy have dropped in each area since previous years.
But health officials across the patch are trying to encourage more and more women to give up, and making mums-to-be aware of the risks, including higher chance of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, and genetic defects such as a cleft palate or a cleft lip.
And once the child is born they are also more at risk of cot death, getting asthma and other chest infections, and are three times more likely to be a smoker when they grow up.
But if pregnant women kick the habit, not only will their baby benefit, but they will too.
They will experience 60 per cent less morning sickness, have 80 per cent less chance of getting urinary infections, have much more energy and will be at less risk of having complications during birth.
Ms Howells said: 'It's never too late to give up, no matter how far through your pregnancy you are.
'Don't just cut down because that can do more harm than good, because when you cut down you tend to smoke harder, deeper and longer on the few cigarettes you do have.'
She added: 'Babies of non-smokers are better feeders, sleepers and smilers, who will grow up strong with less risk of health problems. And there's so many benefits for the mum too.'
If you would like help to quit smoking, or would like more information, call (023) 9236 9234 or visit pompeyquit.com
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Friday 25 May 2012
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