West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds launches improved support for pregnant women who smoke

A Suffolk hospital is providing face-to-face support and free nicotine replacement products to reduce the number of pregnant women smoking.

West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds aims to reduce the number of women smoking at the time of delivery from ten percent to six percent or lower, by improving support for women and families.

The new system was launched on May 9, and is based on a similar system in Manchester and Portsmouth.

Jackie Coleman, lead on the smoking cessation team at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We try to understand why each person smokes.

“We know pregnancy is one of the most stressful times in a woman’s life, and many who already suffered with anxiety and depression use nicotine as a crutch.

“Our service is non-judgmental. We are here to support people, and we know that stopping smoking can be a stop-start process.”

Under the new system, one person in the mother’s household who smokes and wants to stop will get 14 face-to-face appointments, or phone catch ups if that suits them best. Free vapes and nicotine replacement products will also be posted to their homes.

Aftercare will be provided for six weeks from the birth of the baby, which Ms Coleman explained is important as a lot of women manage to stop smoking while they’re pregnant but quickly start again after the baby is born.

The person supported will often be the mother, but it could also be a partner or another close family member. The smoking cessation team will work to educate anyone close to the mother who smokes about the risks.

Ms Coleman continued: “What is really sad is when we talk to a woman who says they’ve had three babies and smoked during pregnancy for them, and they’ve all been fine.

“We have to explain to her that it might not be fine this time. We know the risk of still birth and heart defects both increase by 50 percent if a mother smokes during pregnancy.”

According to the NHS, 8.6 percent of women were smoking at the time of delivery across the UK between November 2022 and February 2023.

This is lower than the ten percent reported by West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, but higher than the NHS’ goal of six percent.

At Manchester, the percentage is down to two percent. According to Ms Coleman, the only barrier to getting to this level is West Suffolk Hospital’s stock of nicotine replacement supplies. They don’t have supplies to give out as soon as someone comes in, so there’s a delay while they’re posted.

Debbie Willis co-runs Antenatal Academy from Freedom Church in Mill Road, Bury St Edmunds.

The classes she provides are aimed at supporting women to relax while giving birth, and alleviating fears around childbirth.

Ms Willis said: “This pathway sounds brilliant, though it’s a shame a mother needs to smoke to get this kind of support from the NHS.

“A massive number of women are crippled by anxiety throughout their pregnancy, but they don’t smoke.

“West Suffolk Hospital does offer perinatal mental health support. But this is just for the few people who are having a really, really tough time – not all the others who are struggling.

“I can totally understand why some women are drawn to having a cigarette when they’re pregnant.

“Everything is new and the fear of the unknown is massive – so you go back to something you know, and that you know relaxes you.

“I hope those who come into our sessions would be able to use the techniques we teach them instead of picking up a cigarette.”