Carbon monoxide breath test.

[Blondebrunette1]

I am a non-smoker but live on a main road (set back from but still busy) and the midwife explained normal range for a non-smoker is between 1-3/4, I'm pleased because it came back as 0 but is that normal? We don't live in a rural area and I thought environmental factors mean you have a little in your system. Of course I'm glad it's 0 especially after recent boiler troubles but could it not have worked?

Are you normally so anxious? I say that kindly but this level of worry isn’t healthy.

Mine has always been 0 or 1 and I’m also a non smoker.

Thanks it'sChristmastime, that's good to know. I only thought about it because she said between 1-3/4 is normal. Awkward I wouldn't say I'm anxious no, more curious and asking as I didn't think about it at the time but thank you for your kind concern.

I got 0 on mine and questioned it, but 0 is great!

I just assumes that I would get a reading of something due to environmental factors, but nope.

I got 3 as a non smoker, I live rural but I drive a diesel.

I got a 0 in my last pregnancy which sadly ended in mmc. No lifestyle changes what so ever then in this one I was 4! Never smoked or done anything differently so who knows x

I got 0 in my first pregnancy. Thought, "Great. Don't smoke and I'm not around smokers so makes sense!". Got 2 with this pregnancy despite no significant changes and was horrified! But, it's all normal.

I got 0 and I live in zone 4 in London

It's really interesting isn't it?! I thought being around smokers although no one in my household, living on a main road and near the city, driving a diesel etc, would mean I'd have some in my system. I'm very happy that I don't of course, it must be immediate/short term exposure it shows up on the test then I'd think as I lived in a smokers household for 21 years before getting married and most of us in our 30s and older spent time in very smokey clubs and pubs up until 2007.xx

It changes day to day. First time I was tested I was 0, next time I was 3 later in the pregnancy I’m sure if I was tested again it would be different. I live in zone 3 of London and am regularly in central. So I think it just differs.

Mine was 3 and I've never smoked in my life I was stunned!

I think it measures your exposure in the last 24-48 hours. I’m a non-smoker but like you live on a busy road and also work in central London - got a score of 1. I don’t think you should worry.

The midwife told me that one of the women she’d seen that day got a score of 15!!! Smoker, apparently.

When do they typically do this test?

Kescilly they did mine at 12 week booking apt x

I got a score of 0

I get a 6-7 normally and am a non smoker. I do drive a diesel though and live on a moderately busy street.

My results have both been 0, I was worried the first time as I was a smoker before finding out I was pregnant. I stopped at 6 weeks and I’m sure I had the test at 8 weeks (booking appt) so it definately is your system for a short time frame. I live in the north in the countryside so I guess I’m lucky from that end.

Good luck with your pregnancy OP

Thanks @Blondebrunette1. They haven't tested me and I've just had my 16 week appointment. Maybe it isn't done in every area?

@Kescilly I haven't had it in previous pregnancies and if you don't smoke and have carbon monoxide monitors it's probably not so necessary.

@kescilly - I haven’t been pregnant before but my midwife definitely said it was newly introduced so it might not have been rolled out in your area.

I think it’s largely aimed at scaring smokers into quitting tbh. If you’re a non smoker I doubt you’ve much to worry about.

They do it as a standard in London I believe - irrelevant of if you smoke