New mums giving up smoking

More pregnant women in Bury are giving up smoking, according to new figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Between July and September 2013, 13.2% of pregnant women were recorded as being smokers when their babies were delivered. This accounts for 80 out of the 607 deliveries during this time. This is a drop of more than 3% over the same period in 2012, when 16.4% of women had been recorded as smokers when they delivered (103 out of 629 deliveries).

Maternity services and children’s centres, as well as other professionals who support pregnant mums and new parents, have been working hard to get across the messages about the harm that second-hand smoke causes to the unborn child. Cigarettes can restrict the essential oxygen to an unborn baby.

Lesley Jones, Bury’s director of public health, said: “These figures are good news for Bury and generations of families to come.

“Stopping smoking has immediate benefits for both the mum and the baby. The mother is likely to have a healthier pregnancy and the baby is less likely to be born prematurely or underweight. The baby is also less likely to suffer from problems such as asthma in later life.

“There is a lot of support available for pregnant women who would like to quit. They can receive advice from their midwife, GP, many pharmacies and from the Bury Stop Smoking Service. The support is free and they will also be able to receive a prescription or a voucher for products such as gum and patches to help with their quit attempt.”

For further information or to arrange an appointment with a stop smoking advisor, call the Bury Stop Smoking Service on 0845 223 9001.

ENDS

Press release issued: 29 November 2013.