Smoking during pregnancy - Action plan
The news comes after a report carried out by The Care Forum, (Bristol), in partnership with us here at Healthwatch North Somerset, found that while women in North Somerset wanted to stop smoking they needed more help to succeed.
The study called the Action Plan to Reduce Smoking in Pregnancy was completed for the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group.
The results made public this week, flagged up a need for support in North Somerset which would more effectively meet each pregnant woman’s needs – a tailored support package – to help them actually give up smoking for good.
North Somerset Council’s Smokefree Manager, Chris Miles, said the council’s previous model in place to help pregnant women stop smoking hadn’t been effective which is why the authority was looking to employ a smoking in pregnancy lifestyle advisor instead.
He added: “The findings of this survey accelerated the need to make changes to the service with the new smoking in pregnancy lifestyle advisor. We wanted to make changes but the report helped us push these into action. We also found the report revealed to us that there were conversations going on with midwives about stopping smoking, which was very good, but we felt we could help themstrengthen their advice to women . There will be new clinics set up to work alongside the midwife’s clinics. We also want it made known that the new service will be open to a woman’s whole family.”
A total of 43 women from Weston and parts of Bristol were interviewed, as part of the survey, to see whether they were able to access and follow health advice and try and stop smoking, both while they were pregnant and post birth. The results and recommendations made public this week, found that many pregnant women were able to cut down, but very few managed to stop smoking altogether. The investigation found that midwives’ role was important in helping women decide to cut down initially but, as pregnancy progressed, many women started again. Seven women of 37 were able to give up completely or cut down on their smoking. And this was due to them receiving advice from support services.
We are pleased that the findings of the report have had an impact, and that the services are now being tailored to meet the needs of women. It is important mothers and their peers get the help they need from services locally.
