to think testing pregnant women to check if they're smoking is a stupid idea

[thegriffon]

Independent article.
This really can't have been thought through. Imagine conversation at AN appointment.
MW "Do you smoke?"
Pregnant woman "No".
MW "I don't believe you, please breathe into this machine."
Pregnant woman "Piss off".

[HeySoulSister]

wont it be just routine like urine teasting and blood pressure? long term it would just become another quick check at ante natal appointment

I think its a good thing

[ballby]

I had this! Had totally forgotten until just now. My MW sold it to me with "I've never used this before, do you mind if we try it on you?". I didn't mind. I didn't feel doubted, I genuinely believed she just wanted to try it out. In hindsight maybe I was being naive! She can't use that line for long, can she?!

[MissyMooandherBeaverofSteel]

I don't smoke and never have, but they would have been told to get to fuck if they wanted to test if I was lying or not at my antenatal appointments.

[QuintessentialOHara]

I think it is a good thing

[TwoFourSixOhOne]

What the fuck?

[WorraLiberty]

It's like drug testing criminals

You shouldn't have to turn your body over to the nanny state the minute you're pregnant.

When they ask if there's any history of illness/conditions in your family, they just believe your answers. They don't ask for concrete proof.

[5madthings]

Yanbu i would have told them.politely to fuck.off.

[cory]

There is a big difference between this and testing your blood pressure. I have no idea what my blood pressure is so I am not in a position to either tell the nurse the truth or lie about it: the apparatus supplies genuinely new information.

Testing whether you smoke cannot possibly not be about casting doubts on your veracity: what kind of woman wouldn't know if she smoked or not?

[PaleHousewifeOfCumbriaCounty]

How offensive to those who dont smoke, and how stigmatising to those who do.... I would also tell them to fuck right off.

[McNewPants2013]

I think it's a rather stupid idea.

Pregnant women who smoke knows the risk to there unborn baby, smokers are not stupid they are addicted to nicotine.

If they want help then the MW can make the appointment

[Oldraver]

Yep another 'never smoked person here who would tell them to fuck off.

[thegriffon]

Routine testing for carbon monoxide levels isn't a bad thing in itself as there are other reasons for having a high level in breath apart from smoking - faulty gas heaters, traffic fumes etc.
Its just the way the article implied it was being done because women might lie about whether they smoke.

[HeySoulSister]

would make those who do smoke possibly think a bit more tho?

if they knew they were going to be tested then it would surely stop them,or at least cut down?

[HeySoulSister]

and common sense would mean non smokers wouldn't need monitoring after initial test?

[CecilyP]

wont it be just routine like urine teasting and blood pressure? long term it would just become another quick check at ante natal appointment

No, because a pregnant woman needs those tests because she does not know the results of the urine testing or if she has high blood pressure. She needs the the medics to do those test. She bloody-well knows whether she smokes or not!

[StealthOfficialCrispTester]

well surely it's still illegal to force a test on someone who doesn't consent?
So nothing has changed in fact

[StealthOfficialCrispTester]

storm in an ashtray. As with everything else the question will be asked, the woman will say yes or no, and the appointment will move on.

[StealthOfficialCrispTester]

Although presumably the first question will be as always, do you smoke
But the CO reading may pick up levels if the woman lives with a smoker or works in a bar

[RememberingMyPFEs]

Not only is it deeply insulting to be tested essentially 'in case you're lying' it would also mean pregnant smokers who would lie about thier habit (for whatever reason) might be less inclined to get pre-natal support and monitoring.
Nanny-state idiocy.

[StealthOfficialCrispTester]

very good point about early access. If they think it will damage the relationship to that extent then it needs to be managed carefully

[TickleMyTitsTillFriday]

I don't think we should tiptoe around women who smoke when they're pregnant. It's fucking awful and they should be reminded of that.

[LastTangoInDevonshire]

Ooooh, get you TickleMyTits.

[HeySoulSister]

offer it to support those genuinely trying to cut back then?

[TickleMyTitsTillFriday]

It's true though. I smoked during my first pregnancy and got a lot of wishy washy nonsense.

I wish someone had talked to me about it properly and given me a bloody good talking to about it. Stupid risk to take and I will never forgive myself.

[TigOldBitties]

I think this is ridiculous,

1. it's fucking cheeky, if I had said no I don't smoke and was told a test was still needed I would probably get very stroppy and feel mightily pissed off with that person in the future
   
   
2. if I did smoke, them stating the fucking obvious of "oh this test shows you smoke" then I would just be thinking no shit sherlock, it wouldn't discourage me from smoking, people already know you shouldn't and have made that decision regardless, its just a waste of time and money faffing about with these tests.