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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:
SchroSawMargeryDaw · 14/05/2013 12:29

Lara I think that is the point. I was honest about smoking and was still told to do it, the monitor they use also tells you the amount of CO2 passing to the baby and I was lectured about this and made to feel utterly awful.

It was a very "look what you are doing and what you are passing to your child" type thing.

dancingwithmyselfandthecat · 14/05/2013 12:38

I'm appalled at the lecturing and hectoring. As a smoker trying to give up I KNOW that what I am doing is stupid and dangerous. I can't imagine there is a smoker in the country who doesn't. But lecturing and hectoring make me feel bad about myself and guess what? That makes me want to smoke.

LaraCroftInDisguise · 14/05/2013 12:42

Oh dear Schro that's awful!

I'm lucky all my experiences were positive. I'd have likely told them to fuck off if they tried that with me!

I have read your pp and can't believe you were treated like that. Utterly atrocious.

amazingmumof6 · 14/05/2013 12:45

dancing - as a chocaholic I really sympathize.
perhaps not as dangerous as smoking, but eating crap and being overweight is not good for my health either (pg or not), but it's hard to stop.

Helmut · 14/05/2013 13:00

Hi. I had this test but was told it was to make sure there were no leaks in my house! I'm a non smoker anyway. Just don't appreciate the odd reason given for the test!

Helmut · 14/05/2013 13:01

Hi. I had this test but was told it was to make sure there were no leaks in my house! I'm a non smoker anyway. Just don't appreciate the odd reason given for the test!

HorryIsUpduffed · 14/05/2013 13:13

Presumably if you say you smoke, and take the test, then as your smoking cessation goes on they can show what improvement you have made to your CO levels.

I don't know what the actual numbers are but say you scored 50 on booking, then 40 a month later, and dropped a few points at each SCS appointment you'd have a quantifiable measure of how much better you are doing.

I gather that some who cut down end up getting more CO/nicotine than before, because they make each cigarette last, take deeper drags, etc. So "from 20 to 5 a day" might not be a good indication of the difference to the baby as CO monitoring.

In an ideal world, those giving up could be lent a CO monitor to do frequent self-tests. Could be motivating.

ParsingFancy · 14/05/2013 13:19

What I've learned from this thread.

Midwifes are required to assume the mother is lying, about smoking.

Many midwifes are themselves actually lying, about the function of the test.

Was trust supposed to be any part of this relationship?

ParsingFancy · 14/05/2013 13:25

To be generous to the midwives, my experience of deceit-based processes is that the front-end staff have themselves been lied to and manipulated, and are in good faith passing on the lies they have been told.

ParsingFancy · 14/05/2013 13:28

Ugh, can't write today. That's a general comment about deceit-based processes: it's just a guess that the midwives have been fed the line about detecting dodgy gas appliances as both true and as a valid reason for testing CO.

HoleyGhost · 14/05/2013 14:10

The lies about checking for boiler fumes are properly dangerous, given that they might provide false reassurance.

ParsingFancy · 14/05/2013 14:21

I do agree with Horry that there could be a part for CO monitors for people who are quitting smoking.

If someone fully understands what the machine does, and chooses to be regularly tested while attempting to give up, it could be really motivating. Just like scales for dieters.

But that is not how the machine is currently being used. It's being used as a lie-detector.

bemybebe · 14/05/2013 14:59

Totally and utterly barmy. And I am sorry, there is no child to 'choose' anything.

BreatheandFlyAway · 14/05/2013 15:04

I feel there should be a compulsory IQ test for NICE policy makers.

Spend the bloody money on breast screening.

VisualiseAHorse · 14/05/2013 15:33

Agree Breathe. Maybe there should be an IQ test for pregnant women too, so stupid people are monitered?

SolomanDaisy · 14/05/2013 18:22

I had this at my booking in appointment in 2010! I assumed it was standard practice. I've never smoked. It wouldn't have occurred to me to object though, I assume it would also pick up excess carbon monoxide from other sources.

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 14/05/2013 18:33

"No" is a complete sentence. So is "stick your fucking test up your fucking arse"! I know I have never smoked, and I don't care if anyone else believes me. Nobody will be getting me to blow into anything. Period!

BlackSwan7 · 14/05/2013 20:03

If a pregnant woman smokes, she smokes. So what?

I am fully supportive of maternal rights. I don't believe the fetus has any rights whatsoever and I think that pregnant women should have complete autonomy over their bodies.

Futterby · 14/05/2013 20:21

How can you be happy with yourself if a choice you're making to your own body is harming your baby though? I just don't understand that at all. Speaking as a pregnant woman.

Offred · 14/05/2013 20:22

Futterby - because it is a risk of harm not a harm and because cigarettes are addictive and most pregnancies not planned and are a stressful time. For a lot of smokers reducing is a triumph and for most women and babies the babies won't be harmed.

Futterby · 14/05/2013 20:25

But then how can you be happy if you're risking your baby's health? I smoked around 20 a day when I fell pregnant (unplanned) and quit on the spot when I got my BFP. I just don't understand how the risk of harm to your baby is worth a cigarette.

amazingmumof6 · 14/05/2013 20:38

I was harmed by it. low birthweight, lots of illnesses, almost all because of my compromised respiratory system. I still have chronic sinusitis and upper respiratory infections regularly. I hate smoking in every level.

my mum smoked through pg, and all my childhood I was a secondary smoker through both of my parents' non-stop smoking.
they say they had no idea how badly it could effect a baby/child/anyone. well it made me very ill, many times.

I think a fetus does have a right to be given the best possible start in life.
If smoking didn't harm a baby why do smokers feel guilty?

Offred · 14/05/2013 20:42

Smoking does increase the risks of harm. Those risks are increased the more you smoke. All I meant was that being a smoker/non smoker is not the sole defining fact.

Offred · 14/05/2013 20:43

A lot of people living on stressful situations find it very hard to give up. Cutting down does help. I'm not a smoker btw.

Offred · 14/05/2013 20:45

If is it 21% of pregnant women do some smoking it is true that the majority of their babies are not very badly damaged by it.

This plan is so bad precisely because it treats it as all or nothing and it will deter women from going to antenatal care and/or seeking support with smoking in pregnancy. It will create more problems.

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