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

Glasgow, this was at the Southern general but the annoying smoking cessation people were at my local health centre.

The rest of the MWs I have met at the SG have been nice though and the community MWs and HB ones have been lovely.

Schro, where the fuck are you in Scotland?

I refused a few things during pregnancy and was never made to feel bad or forced into anything.

They can't make you do anything that you don't consent to, just refuse.

Ok I've just looked it up. Nicotine crosses the placenta and there do seem to be issues with it so this looks like an even worse idea than I suspected.

I am looking up Cochrane reviews now. Will be back.

Here's a wild and crazy thought. Why not just ask?

Too out there?

False positives would concern me. When I was pregnant, my job exposed me to passive smoke (visiting people, some of whom smoked, in their homes at a stressful time of their lives).

If this passive smoking was picked up by the test, it is possible I would have been considered to be a liar. If a midwife doesn't then trust her client, she may well be less likely to take concerns and symptoms seriously which could lead to serious consequences.

Sunny It's not just the Mothers though, it's the partners too. In my experience with the hospital booking in MWs they seem to think that every soon to be parent is a cheating, lying promiscuous idiot.

I think this is outrageous - why aren't pregnant women being trusted to tell the truth?

I'd love to see NICE's rationale for this recommendation. As a HCP and a pregnant woman (non-smoker) I can't see any benefit to the health of either the mother or the baby in this, or how it could possibly improve therapeutic relationship-building between woman and midwife. CO2 tests are already used as part of the smoking cessation service, and in that context they are extremely useful, but I think the current system of providing information and allowing women to make their own decisions using that information is how it should be.

Logan I forgot about that, yes DP was convinced to take the test as well.

Also in Scotland

Apparently the nicotine is harmless, it's just the rest of the cigarette they're bothered about.

Uck, it's fine. I realise that the NHS MWs are over stretched and probably have targets to hit to get people to take these tests.

K8 I actually said that to the MW who made me take the HIV test, that she could do it as she obviously wasn't taking no for an answer but I do not want to consent to it and feel forced, I said those words and she said "are you sure, that's great. We'll just do that now then" After accusing my DP of being a cheat shagging about.

The community mws have been lovely though. :)

I thought this test was the norm. During all pregnancies I've had it tested at booking in appt, so has my DH (we're in Scotland).

Really didn't bother me as neither of us smoke (I was still referred to smoking sensation despite this - think it was a mistake).

The more and more shit like this they keep coming up with, the less and less I want to quit smoking.

And I didn't really want to quit anyway. Quite enjoy it. NICE are just pushing me even further away really

That is mad Schro. Isn't Nicotine actually a poison? Am I right in thinking that the NHS is giving pregnant woman who don't smoke a poison because of the results of this test?

As for the "we will allow you/we will not allow you" comments from HCPs, that's totally fucking rude and should be banned. If there's any allowing going on, it should be from a woman giving informed consent not by some militant jobsworth midwife

Dreadful waste of resources.

Schro that's awful, I'm really sorry.

I don't smoke and never have, but I agree that tests like this are rude and intrusive, and I'd be very unhappy to have to take one.

Luckily she isn't my MW and I never have to see her again, she's just the one that booked me in.

I bought an electric cigarette, that seemed to make them happy.

That happened when I was pg with DD, Orange, wacking great sticker about it on my notes, I got home and peeled the fucking thing off (I quit at the positve test then as well :o)

That's horrible, Schro, thought my midwife was bad! I don't agree with smoking whilst pregnant but I don't judge those who continue to do so, it is your body after all! x

In my area the midwives must stick 'Stop smoking' stickers all over your notes when you book in whether you smoke or not.
I then had consultants asking me about my nonexistant smoking every appointment.

A small waste of time and money, but still a waste in an overstretched service.

This idea is worse. Just awful.

And before I get lectured on here, I know smoking whilst pregnant is bad but it wasn't at the top of my list tbh.

Pregnant Every time I refused I was given lectures on how disgusting smoking whilst pregnant is and all the things I am doing to my baby and I should take the test, basically making out that I am a shit person if I didn't let her.

When you're in a position like that and you're also at the point of wanting the world to just end around you, you lose your strength to stick up for yourself properly.

That's the thing though, I did tell them. They just weren't taking no for an answer, like this stupid test would solve all of my problems.

I also refused the HIV blood test as have had it in last pregnancy and DS is only 19 months, DP was with me and she actually said to my DP that just because I know I haven't slept around doesn't mean he hasn't! WTF!

Refused it over and over and she basically wasn't letting me leave until I agreed. I immediately complained about her to my Consultant.

I think these people forget that not everyone is happy to be there, the only reason I was there is because I couldn't abort, I don't have it in me. I ended up being put on anti depressants a few months ago (29+2 just now) because I was becoming suicidal.