A recent campaign set up by the NHS aims to discourage smoking among pregnant women and benefit the health of the unborn child. The NHS Smokefree campaign includes pictures of a pregnant woman, holding a cigarette and highlights that every cigarette a pregnant woman smokes, decreases the oxygen, a baby takes in and affects it growth and development in the womb.

The campaign also shows how a baby’s heart needs to beat harder, if the pregnant woman smokes.

Smoking is a key factor of the price of health insurance premiums and the habit can rack up the cost of policies, so not only will it affect physical health, but the financial wellbeing of a policy holder as well.

Critical view stops women seeking help

Studies indicated that a factor discouraging pregnant smokers, from discussing and seeking help with their habit is the fear of being criticised by other. A study involving 2,000 respondents found that 49 per cent said they were “critical” of pregnant smokers.

In another study involving 224 pregnant women who smoked, twenty-eight per cent, wanted to find help, but feared being judged; 38 per cent hid the habit from others, while 39 per cent of the pregnant smokers said they were “ashamed” to admit their habit to their midwife or to a healthcare professional.

Dr Miriam Stoppard, who is backing the campaign, said: "Pregnant women who smoke do not automatically find it easy to stop smoking as soon as they become pregnant, often hiding their smoking rather than asking for help to quit, because they feel that they will be criticised.

"Pregnancy can be a particularly difficult time to stop smoking - and rather than stigmatising these women, we should be guiding them to their local NHS Stop Smoking Service for expert advice and support to help them quit."

A personal view

A personal account, from Catherine Anderson – a 39-year-old proud mum of four-month-old twins, Marcus and Holly – shows that the habit can be kicked, as she did it, more than once.

Catherine has been a non-smoker for eight months and vows that this time it is for good. Previously, she smoked up to 10 cigarettes a day, but after finding out she was pregnant, she chose to stop “for their benefit”.

During her first pregnancy, wither son, Jenson, she was able to stop smoking, by herself, however when she became pregnant with her twins, she said “I knew I couldn't do it on my own.”

She stated: “My midwife put me in touch with Geraldine O’ Driscoll, a stop smoking adviser based at the Great Western Hospital. I had been a little apprehensive because I thought that she might be critical of me, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

“Geraldine was so friendly and instantly gave me the confidence that I would be able to succeed. We arranged that she would conduct our sessions at my house, which obviously made it more convenient for me when I became more heavily pregnant.

“My carbon monoxide levels were monitored in my first session and it was so scary to see how much I had in my body, because I’d only had two cigarettes that day.”

Catherine concluded by saying: “Geraldine has done me a huge favour and has become a good friend.

“It’s so good to know that she’s on the other end of the phone if I ever get the urge to have a cigarette and I need someone to tell me to stop. I can’t say it’s been easy, but I had the best reason in the world to do so. I had to do it for the twins and for Jenson, so it was definitely a case of mind over matter.”

Smoking hotspots highlighted

In further research, smoking hotspots for pregnant women were highlighted, with Southampton being named as having the highest rate, with 19.5 per cent of women continuing to smoke throughout their pregnancy. In Hampshire – 12.3 per cent – a substantial amount of pregnant women also smoke during their pregnancy.

Dr Andrew Mortimore, Southampton’s Public Health Director, said: “It is worrying that high numbers of women in Southampton are still smoking while pregnant, and we appreciate that stopping smoking is very difficult.

“We have recently started to provide intensive support from midwives who have been trained to help mothers stop smoking.”

Wendy Bennett, Hampshire’s Stop Smoking Specialist, added: “Some women don’t want to admit to their midwives that they are smoking and feel they will be frowned upon. We offer a non-judgement service and can offer nicotine replacement products.”