Here find the latest news relating to smoking in pregnancy and smoking cessation. This information will be regularly updated so please check back.
Vaping: Free e-cigarettes to be handed out in anti-smoking drive
Tobacco Dependency Treatment Programme - HNY Health and Care Partnership
Voucher scheme effective at halting smoking in pregnancy - University of York
NHS helps thousands of pregnant smokers kick the habit
Midwives welcome drop in smoking rate among pregnant women - Royal College of Midwives
As a precautionary measure, the government has classed pregnant women as a group at risk of severe illness with COVID-19.
COVID-19 is a respiratory infection which can cause life threatening systemic inflammation and pulmonary and cardiovascular complications.
Public Health England guidance states that: “On the available evidence, we advise:
The evidence is clear that:
This is significant health information, which smokers have a right to know, and they need to be supported to take steps to quit or abstain from smoking. See our FAQs for more information on COVID-19 and smoking.
Secondhand smoke
People, including children, exposed to secondhand smoke are also at increased risk from coronavirus. It is therefore essential that parents, carers and other household members are advised not to smoke in the home or around pregnant women and children.
6 September 2023
Why Swap? Let’s get better and swap to a less harmful form of nicotine this Swaptember is a Humber and North Yorkshire region-wide campaign to raise awareness of the alternative forms of nicotine you can use in place of harmful tobacco. Please visit the website for more information on how to swap and details of your local stop smoking service. www.swaptember.co.uk
How much could you SAVE by stopping smoking?
How much does a pack of 20 cigarettes cost you?
How many cigarettes do you smoke a day?
Calculate my savings
A range of area specific support services to help you stop smoking are available in East Riding, Hull, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire and City of York. We have also included information and a link to the HNY Swap and Stop initiative.
If you are looking for help and support to quit smoking during pregnancy anywhere in the Humber and North Yorkshire area then Bump The Habit is here to help and support you.
Vicky, 39, from Hull, used to smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day but has now been smoke-free for four weeks (as of July 2020).
Vicky was at college when she first started smoking. It wasn’t something she thought much about initially, but all of her friends smoked and she soon got caught up with the crowd. Once hooked, it became a habit for her, and she was soon smoking up to 10 cigarettes a day, which increased as she got older.
No upcoming events were found.
Why quitQuitting smoking is the best thing you can do for you and your baby’s health. At Bump The Habit, we realise it’s a stressful time for you and we are here to give you all the support and help that you need. We offer home visits that work around you and we can also support o ther members of your family to quit at the same time.
1
Your pregnancy: complications may include bleeding, detachment of the placenta and ectopic pregnancy. The risk of miscarriage and premature birth is also greater
2
Your birth: chance of stillbirth or death within the first week of life is increased by up to one third
3
Your baby: on average babies born to women who smoke have low birth weights and are more prone to illness and infections. Your baby is also more likely to suffer defects, such as a cleft palate
4
Your child: on average, children born to smokers are smaller, have lower achievements in reading and maths and an increased risk of asthma. Your child is also three times as likely to become a smoker themselves
5
New you: stop now and see the effects almost immediately; the carbon monoxide and other chemicals quickly leave your body increasing the oxygen in your blood which supplies your baby
Myth: I only smoke light cigarettes, so it’s not as bad...
FACT
Smokers who switch to ‘light’ or ‘mild’ brands end up compensating for lower levels of tar and nicotine by inhaling smoke more deeply or by smoking more of each cigarette. If you smoke light cigarettes, you will still be putting harmful chemicals into your body.
Myth: I'm pregnant and have been smoking, so there is no point in stopping now.
FACT
Quitting smoking at any stage of your pregnancy has health benefits for you and your baby. Even after just one day of not smoking, your baby will get more oxygen. This will help your baby’s lungs develop well. Quitting now also lowers your chances of having a baby with low birth weight.
Myth: Quitting smoking will be too stressful on my baby.
FACT
Quitting smoking doesn’t put extra stress on your baby. It’s one of the best things that you can do for your health and your baby’s health during pregnancy—and after the baby is born. By quitting smoking now, you will be protecting your infant from the dangers of secondhand smoke and reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
Myth: Smoking fewer cigarettes during pregnancy is OK.
FACT
There is no safe amount of smoking. Every puff of a cigarette releases harmful chemicals that will reach your baby and affect your health too.
E-cigarettes are also not harmless as they do contain some toxins, but at far lower levels than found in tobacco smoke. If you are pregnant and smoking cigarettes choosing to vape instead may help you to quit smoking and stay smoke free,
Myth: Smoking relaxes me, and being relaxed is better for me and my baby.
FACT
Smoking may make you feel calmer, but it hurts your body more than it helps. The relaxed feeling is only temporary and whatever is causing your stress will likely return. Smoking speeds up your heart rate and increases your blood pressure. It also increases the carbon monoxide in your bloodstream, which means your baby gets less oxygen.
Myth: There is nothing wrong with having a small baby.
FACT
Smoking during pregnancy increases the chances of having a low birth weight baby. Babies with low birth weight are more likely to have serious health problems than normal weight babies. These problems can affect your baby’s health now, throughout their childhood, and into adulthood.
Myth: I smoked during my last pregnancy and had a healthy baby, so this next baby will be healthy too.
FACT
Every time you smoke during pregnancy, you put your baby’s health at risk. If you smoked and had a healthy pregnancy in the past that does not mean your next one will be healthy, too.
Myth: Using hookah pipes (hubbly bubbly) is less harmful than cigarette smoking.
FACT
Water pipe smokers, and secondhand smokers exposed to them, are at risk of the same kinds of diseases that are caused by cigarette smoking, including cancer, heart and respiratory diseases, as well as adverse effects during pregnancy.
A World Health Organisation study has suggested that during 1 session on a water pipe (around 20 to 80 minutes), a person can inhale the same amount of smoke as a cigarette smoker consuming 100 or more cigarettes.
