Pregnant women should take 'smoking test': what do you think?

"... it did not reflect on the fact they felt I was lying, but to catch the small % who do."

"Catch", feelthis?

Catch, as in apprehend a criminal? As in "catch out" a naughty child?

I'm sure that's not how you meant it but that's how it makes me feel. Grown women who have a legal right to do something don't need to be "caught". This is not a police state, nor should it be a nanny one.

I'd refuse this test but even so I'm in no doubt whatsoever that if it becomes the norm there will be medical staff out there who exceed their responsibilities by coercing women into it, telling them that they "have to" have it.

I am no lawyer, but isn't it a criminal offence to force someone to take any medical test/receive any medical treatment without consent? Wouldn't it constitute assault? Upthread somebody mentioned being coerced into an HIV test and not being 'allowed' to leave the clinic until she'd given consent. Isn't this false imprisonment? My understanding is that consent has to be secured for all medical treatment; we are free to accept or decline services as we see fit. I don't think pregnant women are legally required to access any ante-natal service if they don't want to. Healthcare professionals cannot force pregnant women (or anybody else for that matter) to do anything they don't want to do (in law, anyway).

I did one of these too - I think it was in Glasgow - I didn't mind as I don't smoke - I had the same experience as feelthis above

I thought this was common practise everywhere. I has been done in Glasgow for years - since 2006 that I know of.

I have no issue with it - as I see it the midwives are there to protect the health of the foetus and I just assumed it was done because people do indeed lie and they want to be sure that they have done all they can for the baby.

I was not offended at taking the test even after telling them I didn't smoke as I know it did not reflect on the fact they felt I was lying, but to catch the small % who do.

Jane surely they can't do that?
I thought they had to explain and have your consent for every test they do?

I thought that this test was already used as an optional test.

When I had my booking in appointment with DS, the midwife asked if I smoked. I told her (truthfully) that neither me or anyone I live with had ever smoked, and she said that she had a carbon monoxide test that she was supposed to ask pregnant women to take, but given what I said about not smoking, there wasn't any point getting me to take it.
Carbon monoxide test wasn't even mentioned at my booking in appointment with DC2 a month or two back. Same community midwife - guess I'm lucky to have one who'd happy to take women at their word about whether or not they smoke.

I have no objection to it being offered, but I've got reservations about it being compulsory. And I don't really see how being made to take a carbon monoxide test and being given advice on quitting smoking will stop pregnant women who are set on continuing to smoke continuing to smoke.
I'd have thought that those pregnant women who do smoke and who want to stop for the sake of the baby will surely be voluntarily confessing to smoking and asking for help anyway.

What was the MW's answer Jane?

It seems that Jasper Fforde's vision of the Cheese Enforcement Agency may not be so far-fetched after all!

It almost makes you want health services to have to follow the same kind of self-declaration model as financial advisors, who have to spell out the fees they will make from particular products if you choose to take them. "I"m asking you to stop smoking and that will bag me 20 quid in the QOF bingo this month". Etc.

When I went for my booking in appointment a couple of months ago I was asked if I smoke, I said no. I was later asked to blow into something without being told what it was. I asked if it was a carbon monoxide test to check if I was lying. Seemed quite underhand to me. Wasn't sure how to feel about it afterwards.

I had my booking in in Hackney on Saturday and wasn't tested. The lovely mid-wife quite rightly took me at my word that I have not had a ciggie since NYE, long before i got up-duffed. If this test had been sprung on me, I don't think i would have taken it very well.

If a mid-wife suspects a pregnant lady is smoking and lying about it, insisting on a test that will expose the lie is unlikely to help mum quit smoking. It will only cause friction and distance her from the mid-wife, so you will end up with a smoking mother less likley to access services. Genius.

What next - being frisked for soft cheese and lattes?

This is what happens when you put Jeremy Hunt in charge of the NHS. Utter idiocy

Tbh I think she just didn't realise the extent of how bad it was even though she made me take the first one in front of her. She kept telling me that after the first couple of times it would stop. Funnily enough it didn't!

I'd be totally honest with them asking me questions, I do not like feeling pushed into stuff I don't want and being made out a liar even after I have been honest!

Schro that's horrible, I can't believe they were so incredibly rude. If it's an optional test then it should absolutely be optional, in every sense. In other words, no pushy manipulative bollocks.

If they ask me next week at my booking in if I want to do this CO test I'm going to refuse. How unnecessary. Why would I need a test to tell me if I smoke or not, surely everyone knows if they are or are not a smoker?

They already do this. They did it to me with I went for my booking in at 9 weeks

K8 and Vinegar I wasn't a non-smoker, just allergic to the NRT (brings me out in rashes, feels like it's horribly burning and I struggle to breathe easily if it's an oral NRT treatment), it said it in my notes I told them too and I was told to take it anyway.

And lets face it who actually knew there was a test for it, i only know after reading cases of babies dying from it and it's noted that this test which costs just £18 could save many. But no they waste money and rescourses on this crap, it's disgusting!

I took the CO test on my booking appointment in my current pregnancy. It didn't occur to me to be offended, even as a 7+ year ex-smoker. Interestingly the mw pointed out that it would also pick up signs of faulty gas appliances at home. I could have refused it if I'd chosen to, it was offered rather than imposed, as I recall.

Exactly Logan, it was me who mentioned that Strep B surely should take presidence over this silly test, as babies die from Strep B, and a simple test on the Nhs could save many whereas at the moment mothers have to pay for this test.

Love the idea of a web chat. Especially keen to know why test for this instead of Group B Strep as someone mentioned above.

I don't actually understand the point of the test.

If a women lies about smoking in pregnancy she obviously has decided to continue smoking with the full knowledge of the possible consequences.

This test could make some vunrable women consider not seeking medical care if they think or perceive critism from hcp's

I've taken the test with each of my pregnancies. I felt like a naughty child who wasn't to be trusted, and felt so patronised when I passed the test. I just presumed I had to. This thread has reminded me that I have a choice.

I had it with ds1 who'll be 7 in November, and ds2 (5 weeks). Also Glasgow.

I'm a non-smoker so obv knew it would be neg. Took 2 seconds of my time and was mildly reassuring that having very heavy smokers living to the left, right and underneath my flat (our clothes & other belongings all smell faintly of stale smoke despite both dh & I being non-smokers) wasn't resulting in any measurable level of exposure for me.

I agree that there should absolutely be no pressure if someone refuses the test though. I guess it depends who you see - I can't imagine any of the staff I encountered through either of my pgs forcing anything on anyone - having said that I didn't refuse any tests so may be naive in thinking this.

I just don't see what advantage a test like this would have. If people want to/can give up (it is an addiction after all) then they will. If they don't want to/can't, nothing will be changed other than the relationship between pregnant women and healthcare professionals. No-one will gain anything from this. Surely the same leaflets are available without the test.

I am a midwife and think its a terrible idea. When I meet a woman at her booking appointment it is my first opportunity to begin to get to know her and her family and to foster a relationship built on trust. How on earth am I supposed to do that when I am expected to ask her to prove to me that she is a non smoker? What next, a breathalyser and a drug screen? Ludicrous!

I had to do this at my booking appointment and again at my 16 week appointment last summer. I just assumed it was standard practice.

As I don't smoke I didn't think anything of it and didnt have any objections but did come away thinking what would have they done if I did smoke and it came back positive. Surely most people are aware of the risks of smoking while pregnant, and id imagine that there is already sufficient advice / help and literature available. I can't see what benefit this test is other than putting the future mother to shame.