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Since April 2022, the number of women who smoke when their baby is born has fallen in Herefordshire and ������ϲ�����ͼ�� from 10.8% to 8.8%, which is just below the England average of 8.9%. This is a great improvement on previous years.

This means a healthier start for more babies being born in the two counties. 

Councillor Karen May, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Health and Well-Being at ������ϲ�����ͼ�� County Council, said: "These figures are really encouraging because reducing smoking can make a big difference to the health of mums and their babies. However, we can’t be complacent and must work to ensure this reduction continues.

The County Council’s Public Health team here have been working hard with our NHS colleagues to achieve this and I am really positive about what we can do in the future."

In ������ϲ�����ͼ��, the work has included a unique Stop Smoking in Pregnancy Service within ������ϲ�����ͼ�� Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. A team of dedicated stop-smoking advisors that are available to support pregnant women and families in their home with one to one behavioural support and free nicotine replacement therapy.

Two new public health midwives have been employed to focus on improving health and wellbeing in pregnancy including working within maternity to decrease smoking rates. There has been a focus on supporting midwives to have routine conversations about smoking, taking carbon monoxide readings and referring women and families into the Stop Smoking Service.

The Stop Smoking Service and two new public health midwife posts have all been funded by Public Health in ������ϲ�����ͼ��.

Linda Haynes, a Public Health Specialist Midwife said: "I am extremely proud of our team and the support we give people to stop smoking which is centred around the unique needs of each individual.

“We help people with a 12-week stop smoking plan, which is agreed on a one to one basis, and can be adjusted and tailored for everyone meaning people have a genuine choice during discussions with the stop smoking advisors.”

A pregnant lady who recently benefitted from the support the service offers, said*:

“I have smoked since I was 14 years old and was smoking 10-15 roll ups a day at the start of pregnancy.

“I had tried quitting in the past with support from a practice nurse and using refillable vapes but was unable to quit.

“I could tell straight away this was going to be a different support service to what I had experienced in the past. I didn’t feel any pressure to quit, I felt the appointment was personal and I wasn’t just a number in a line of people to be seen.

“It was nice knowing that I could contact my maternity stop smoking advisor if I felt I was having any wobbles.

“Before pregnancy I had high blood pressure but since quitting smoking my blood pressure is now normal.

“I would highly recommend any smoking pregnant woman takes up the maternity stop smoking support, I am so grateful to my advisor who I can only describe as amazing.”

*The complete transcription of this person’s experience of ������ϲ�����ͼ��’s Stop Smoking in Pregnancy Service is available to read by clicking on the drop down panel.

Councillor Karen May added: "If somebody reads this or hears about it and is worried about smoking while pregnant, they can access support through their midwife. It's free and available to the whole household."

An enhanced programme of training to help midwives to support women to improve their health and wellbeing during pregnancy will be rolled out later this year.

Anyone who is pregnant and lives in or receives midwifery care in ������ϲ�����ͼ�� can access stop smoking support by emailing: wah-tr.smokingcessationteam@nhs.net or calling Heidi Hulbert, 07568 601709 (Kidderminster & Malvern); Shelley Halford, 07568 601710 (Redditch & Bromsgrove); Liz Hammond, 07568 601711 (Worcester & Wychavon).