A NEW campaign encouraging parents-to-be to quit smoking has launched in Coventry and Warwickshire.
The Love Your Bump campaign uses messages from ‘bump’ directed to parents and fellow family members who smoke to ask them to stop. The campaign will be shown across the region and a new webpage is available to signpost residents to local support services at happyhealthylives.uk/LoveYourBump
Smoking is an addiction and Coventry and Warwickshire’s experienced and friendly advisors are on hand to help pregnant women beat it with support and guidance.
Smokers are three times more likely to quit smoking with support from the stop smoking in pregnancy service than on their own.
Smoking during pregnancy can increase the risk of developing pregnancy and birth complications and beyond, including miscarriage, pre-term pregnancy, stillbirth, lower birth weight or sudden infant death. There’s also a higher chance that children exposed to smoking develop asthma, as well as an increased likelihood that they will smoke in later life.
Tracy Pilcher, new Chair of the Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS), said: “Stopping smoking is the single biggest positive action you can do for the health of your baby. Giving up anything is hard, especially when it can feel like a comfort and is as additive as smoking, but there is help.
“The LMNS is the coming together of providers, commissioners, public health teams and other partners to improve the health and wellbeing of our local mothers, babies and their families. Second hand or ‘passive smoke’ is also damaging to the health of both baby and mother so supporting those around them to stop smoking is just as important. Our LMNS ‘Love Your Bump’ campaign is timed to coincide and reinforce the established annual Stoptober event.”
Warwickshire County Council (WCC) spokesperson for health, Coun Margaret Bell, said: “Quitting smoking can be a challenge for many people. Nicotine is an addictive substance, and we understand that even when you know it’s the best thing for the health of you and your baby it is still difficult to take steps to quit. The local stop smoking in pregnancy service has specialist advisors trained to work with pregnant women and their families to support them through the stop smoking journey.”
