Giving up smoking is as hard as you think it is going to be.
NICE and the NHS are attempting to support and assist pregnant mothers with giving up an addiction to cigarettes. Not just cos they are nice people but because cigarettes can be harmful to both mum and baby. They are willing to throw some resources at this problem at an early stage as the long term cost benefit makes it worthwhile.
The denial smokers inhabit is quite difficult for non smokers to understand. You will note that despite the wealth of information to the contrary, smokers will pick out the one doctor or midwife who confirms its safe to smoke while pregnant. It is ridiculous.
The booking-in appointment is intrusive anyway - but the intrusion is there to avoid pain and suffering later on.
It really is none of the MW's business if my husband beats me but I know why I'm being asked and I can tolerate the intrusion while understanding the wider social good.
And six years on I have no desire to smoke at all, however, on a warm balmy evening, while sitting in the street seats of a vibrant bar in the city of my partying youth, sipping on a nice white wine and laughing with old friends, the smell of smoke and memories in the air - yes, I think, if only I could have one, and I get a vague notion of whether anyone still knows any dealers, but then I remember I've got to get up at 6 the next morning to look after my toddler, get kids to school and clean up my house before heading to work. Life moves on, smoking and having kids shouldn't mix just as taking drugs or getting drunk in front of kids is just rubbish.