Pregnant smokers get support to save babies' lives

Smoking can lead to stillbirth, pre-term birth and smaller babies, the NHS says

Women who smoke during pregnancy will be supported by new advisers in a bid to protect the health of mothers and babies.

Frimley Health Foundation Trust (FHFT) has recruited three specialist maternity tobacco dependency advisors (MTDAs) to help reduce smoking in pregnancy and beyond.

They will make mothers-to-be aware of the risks of pre-term birth, having a smaller than expected baby, and stillbirth.

It comes as the national Saving Babies' Lives campaign, which targets stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates, has recommended maternity services provide in-house smoking cessation services.

Pregnant patients who book in with FHFT for antenatal care will now receive an evidence-based combination of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and behavioural support from one of their specifically trained advisers.

Dr Rebecca Edwards, consultant midwife and professional midwifery advocate, said: "Being 'in-house', our maternity clinical teams anticipate working closely with the MTDAs to provide personalised and holistic care to each individual needing stop smoking support."

She added that the team would work across both Frimley Park and Wexham Park hospitals, "providing tailored support from our existing maternity hubs".

"As of today, midwives will be able to advise and then refer patients to MDTAs from their first midwifery appointment," she said.