More than 70 pregnant women have benefited from a hospital programme which has helped them quit smoking before giving birth.
The 72 women were all being supported through their pregnancy by the maternity team at the James Paget – and chose to accept targeted support to help them quit smoking.
They were among a group of 548 pregnant smokers referred to the hospital’s in-house maternity tobacco dependency treatment programme, SmartStart.
SmartStart started locally 18 months ago, with the aim of reducing smoking during pregnancy in Great Yarmouth and Waveney, which has smoking rates that are consistently higher than the national average for England.
The scheme offers tailored, non-judgemental support from a trained, experienced senior maternity tobacco dependency advisor as well as access to tools and strategies to make quitting easier and treatment options, including free nicotine replacement therapy.
Feedback from users who have successfully used the service to quit smoking has been positive.
Sadie, from Lowestoft, said: “When I found out I was pregnant one of my main concerns was ‘could I quit smoking?’ as I have failed many attempts in the past.
“My smoking advisor was the most incredible person I have met, she filled me with so much confidence and hope because if she believed so hard I could quit, then I could believe it too,” she said.
“I have been smoke-free for a year now and have a very healthy baby boy thanks to her help. I will forever be grateful for her kindness and going above and beyond to help me.”
James Paget Tobacco Dependency Team Lead Nicola Brown said: “We are pleased that we have helped more than 70 women quit, through the support of the SmartStart programme.
“Smoking can harm a baby’s development so we are delighted to support every mum-to-be who chooses to quit the habit for the good of their health - and that of their baby.
“Great Yarmouth and Waveney has some of the highest smoking rates in the country, which is why schemes like SmartStart are so important.
“However, there are hundreds of pregnant women each year who are not taking up the offer of support to quit through the programme - so there is still work to do.”
Smoking is harmful for babies during development as the chemicals in cigarettes affect the blood flow through the placenta, meaning a baby gets less oxygen and nutrients needed to promote growth, making its heart work harder.
Quitting smoking at any point during pregnancy stops these harmful chemicals entering the baby and increases the amount of oxygen and nutrients available to help them thrive.
The SmartStart maternity tobacco dependency treatment programme has been operating since April last year, and is run across all three acute hospitals in Norfolk.