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MNHQ

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

489 replies

RowanMumsnet · 12/05/2013 10:39

Hello

There are reports in a couple of papers today (here and here - paywall) that NICE has recommended that all pregnant women be given a carbon monoxide test by their midwife in early pregnancy - effectively, a smoking test. If they test positive, the idea is that the midwife will signpost them to NHS smoking cessation services. The Royal College of Midwives is quoted as saying that they think the idea will adversely affect the relationship between women and their midwives.

We're getting asked what you all think about this - so do please let us know!

OP posts:
Fillyjonk75 · 13/05/2013 13:58

Exactly, it's so patronising and such a waste of time. "Do you smoke?" "No." "Don't believe you, blow into this tube."

IShallWearMidnight · 13/05/2013 14:17

not believing you is nothing new - 20 years ago as a youngish pregnant mum-to-be, because DD was "small for dates" I was monitored daily at the hospital. Every single bloody time I was lectured about how I shouldn't be smoking (had never and have never smoked), and they all refused to put on my notes that I didn't smoke. I was a lot less bolshy back then Blush so wasn't as forceful as I ought to have been. But every midwife refused to consider that being a pre-pregnancy 36-24-36 measurement might affect the pubis-belly button measurement, particularly if the baby was curled up round my middle.

Now with an actual test to be able to do to catch me out, they'd have been even more unbearable. In fairness I did have a couple of lovely midwives eventually who stopped stressing about DDs pre-birth size when she arrived two whole pounds heavier than their predictions three days earlier, and did apologise to me.

ellangirl · 13/05/2013 14:21

Where I live we we already take this test at booking in appt. I asked thr midwife if they get many people lying about smoking, and said no, the vast majority of women are quite honest. I never thought anything of taking the test, but then I don't smoke.

inkonapin · 13/05/2013 14:29

I gave up smoking when I was pregnant (2010/1) and took this test. I didn't really think anything of it, tbh. It could be used to test for carbon mmonoxide leaks in homes, I suppose??

If someone is lying about smoking when pregnant then are they going to engage with the smoking cessation services if they were "caught out" by this test? Unlikely.

ThingummyBob · 13/05/2013 14:35

I don't think this goes far enough tbh.

Why aren't we breath testing up-duffed wimmin at each appointment too?

Joking of course, what a lot of shit. Another attempt to divide and conquer the plebs from some arsehole in government somewhere.

Last I heard the cost of tobacco related illness on the nhs was 2 billion, while tobacco taxes raise 10 billion. They don't really want us all to stop smoking but bashing pregnant smokers makes it look like they care Hmm

wispa31 · 13/05/2013 14:35

WTAF?? seriously?? who comes up with this shit?? load of bollocks. if women wish to continue smoking through pregnancy whilst knowing all of the risks involved that up to them. i for one would refuse it. i am not some child who cant be trusted to tell the truth.

Potteresque97 · 13/05/2013 15:01

What a horrible waste of public funds this would be, and a complete violation of our rights. Agree this is a slippery slope towards treating women as vessels rather than individuals. I have never smoked but I'd strongly consider refusing this get if 'enforced'

Rockinhippy · 13/05/2013 15:24

I hate smoking, especially in pregnancy - but this is ridiculous & smacks way too much of police state - they'll be dishing out nice little mao suits before we know it Angry

MrsHelsBels74 · 13/05/2013 15:35

I had the test, I don't smoke so it didn't bother me.

Sevillemarmalade · 13/05/2013 15:38

Dreadful idea. My booking-in appointment four years ago consisted of me being belittled, bullied and patronised for forty-five minutes - and this was without a smoking "lie detector" test. This is not about smoking, it's about having an excuse to tread women and their rights into the carpet.

Especially angry about this at a time when there is a shortage of midwives and they have so little time available for establishing a relationship of trust and support, which is what women really need in pregnancy. We seem to be edging closer to a "Handmaid's Tale" vision of society every year and it terrifies me.

K8Middleton · 13/05/2013 15:48

Those of you who have written something along the lines of "I had the test. I'm not a smoker so it didn't bother me"

Why are you not bothered they didn't believe you? Surely it's worse to be a non-smoker and disbelieved? Confused

K8Middleton · 13/05/2013 15:53

How long until we see legislation that allows prosecutions of women who fail to stick to the rules in pregnancy? There are prosecutions in the States for "reckless endangerment of the fetus" [sic] Now you may think it would never happen here but I would never have thought we'd see Food Banks in the UK like they have in the USA... but it happened.

It's the gradual erosion of our choices and liberties that starts with this sort of action.

DontmindifIdo · 13/05/2013 16:21

I've never smoked, but I also would refuse to have this - pregnancy is the first time most woman have a lot of contact with the NHS as an adult - it's depressing already how patronised and treated like a child who doesn't know better that goes on already - let's not encourage more of that crap.

sleepyhead · 13/05/2013 16:39

People lie. All the time. The data from doing the test in Glasgow showed that pregnant women who smoked lied 25% of the time about smoking in pregnancy.

If it's not important to know whether a woman smokes or not, if it makes no difference to her chances of getting access to, or taking up the offer of, smoking cessation services/advice on cutting down then they should scrap the tests because they are pointless.

But, if some pregnant women are embarrassed to admit they smoke and doing a test with all women (so not pre-judging, everyone treated the same) means that some of these women will get access to services that they might not otherwise have had, then I'm happy to blow into a tube for 2 seconds.

I can't get too distressed about "being called a liar" though. Hell, if not taking you at your word unquestioningly is being called a liar then that happens a lot in life. It really doesn't exercise me.

You should absolutely be able to refuse the test if you want to though. That should be made crystal clear before its administered and that should be the case with all interventions in pregnancy.

amazingmumof6 · 13/05/2013 16:51

awwwwmannnn - yes 37 is ancient and we must be the same age roughly - so let's get a purple rinse! Grin
just wait until I'll get pg with number 7, I'll be 39+! I will refuse any invasive testing as have done so far and if I get asked one more time if the pg was planned I'll probably scream....

I'm glad you have a healthy child, congrats!

MrsHelsBels74 · 13/05/2013 17:15

It didn't even cross my mind that they were testing me because they didn't believe me.

I'd miscarried a few months before & was so pleased to be pregnant that really puffing on a tube really wasn't high on my list of priorities.

I have to say I don't get why people are getting so upset about this.

carovioletfizz · 13/05/2013 17:26

We have this test where I live in Scotland, honestly didn't bother me to do it. I don't smoke. My sister doesn't smoke either but her level came back high; turns out there is CM in the lab she works in. So was worth doing for her.

Taffeta · 13/05/2013 17:35

This makes me irrationally angry. Bloody nanny state. Since I had DC, I cannot believe how I am treated by dentists, school etc. I am not a child FFS.

iclaudius · 13/05/2013 17:41

Amazing mumof6 that is not old!

I don't get hassle re the testing but DO get asked about the 'same father'

amazingmumof6 · 13/05/2013 18:05

iclaudis - of course 37 is not old, I was kidding!

Teaandflapjacks · 13/05/2013 18:20

Isn't this like trying to crack a nut with a hammer? Every pregnant woman knows it is bad for the baby to smoke in pregnancy, I can't honestly think anyone who is highly addicted sits there thinking 'oh stuff it' and enjoys chuffing away. People who are addicted in such away deserve kindness, support and help - not to be vilified and patronised. And how is giving nicotine substitutes a good thing? WTF?! And how unbelievably patronising. I am glad I live in Germany where such nonsense does not exist, and generally pg women here are treated like adults. I would also point blank refuse (I don't smoke) - since i have just said 'no' - so write that down! I think people get upset since it isn't something you need testing for without knowing the answer to yourself (i.e. like iron levels, or HIV etc - you may not know so a blood test is useful). This is a question you can perfectly well answer - and what if you live in a city centre and get a high reading - what can they do then - get you to move? Confused I would worry about such info being on file, and eventually health insurance companies reading it later and fiddling about accordingly - if the NHS gets privatised. If you see what I mean.

Patchouli · 13/05/2013 18:47

It's just a little gadget, disposable mouthpiece, a few moments at an appointment you already have.
All the talk about expense and time on NHS resources is neither here nor there - they must have decided that compared with the cost of complications because of smoking it's worth trying to help some mums to admit to needing support.
Knowing the risks re how well the placenta might function how long it could last, high blood pressure etc all might help the midwife have a clearer picture with regards to needing closer monitoring, advise re going overdue and all sorts of things.

ChildrensStoriesNet · 13/05/2013 18:51

Perhaps there's a better way...

I'd be happy to choose to be tested for a range of pollutants I'm breathing in generally (not just if I smoke or not), such as vehicle pollutants, factory smoke, waste dump fumes etc etc to get the complete picture.

I don't believe it's just carbon monoxide that causes problems and that comes from many sources (eg: gas fires and boliers), not just smoking.

I would like to know what my kids are breathing in.

HorryIsUpduffed · 13/05/2013 18:53

It didn't bother me because I knew what it would say.

I also knew what my HIV etc blood results would be. But I consented to them too.

ThingummyBob · 13/05/2013 19:08

Isn't this like trying to crack a nut with a hammer? Teaandflapjacks.

^Exactly this.

This way our illustrious leaders will look as if they are 'doing something' to discourage smoking/for the benefit of the nations health (bleurgh) without actually affecting the tobacco revenue to the treasury one jot.

Jimmy-five-pints or whoever may still die a painful death of lung cancer or summat after his years of massive treasury donations but the gov. will say 'we tried to tell the people it wasn't good for them' Hmm without ever really addressing it at all.