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

[RowanMumsnet]

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!

Yes, I am telling you that if numbers of women smoking in pregnancy are that high logically most of their babies are born healthy because the vast majority of babies are born healthy here.

Arguably feeding formula from birth is more risky than smoking even heavily until month five and then giving up.

Studies have found that if you give up by month five the risks reduce to zero.

I live in the Scottish countryside, not that it's any of your business. You can't back up your stats and you don't know what treatment is available on the NHS. I'm a student nurse within the NHS and I've been involved with the treatment of pregnant mothers who smoke so I'm not sure where you're getting your information.

What studies?

You going to ban formula? It causes infant deaths? No, because formula is actually just vital for some babies to prevent their deaths and because the risks of using it can be reduced by the user, just like smoking.

You don't understand what I'm saying. Formula can be vital for some babies health. Smoking isn't.

If you work in health and know so much you'll be able to look them up won't you!

"treatment of pregnant mothers who smoke" - with or without their full and informed consent Futterby?

Or you can back up your fake statistics with evidence.

That's a stupid question Frebbie. I won't dignify it with an answer.

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-514330/Smoking-months-pregnancy-does-harm-baby.html

I don't have access to health databases but it is written about in the daily fail there.

No but for some women smoking cannot be given up.

There is never a stupid question. Only a stupid answer. That's what my university lecturers used to tell me.

I'm a child of a smoking mother. I would say I was unharmed by it. There are probably more of us on here too.

But that isn't the question her, this debate is about trust, trust between a MW and and expectant mum. Not about the rights and wrongs of smoking during pregnancy, it is a widely known fact that you should not smoke when pregnant. For varying reasons some women don't/can't give up.

That has been debunked. "But it was criticised last night by charities, which said earlier research clearly linked smoking with an increased risk of miscarriage, premature birth and cot death, as well as breathing problems."

Offred, I did say that.

Yes, no-one is saying smoking has no risks. I am saying that it increases the risks but the majority of babies born to mothers who have smoked in pregnancy are fine because most babies are fine. I think as you progress through uni you should (hopefully) learn to be a little more understanding and a little less judgemental.

Hate to point this out, but strangely we are all human. We are flawed, and even the best of us with the best intentions 'Do Bad Things For Selfish Reasons That We Simply Can Not Explain, Justify Or Excuse But We Still Do Them'.

And frankly, if you are doing something like that, there us generally a route cause or problem that lies deep down which deserves people to try and understand and help with, rather than taking the big stick to beat with approach.

Why do people take up smoking? Why do they carry on, even though they know its bad for them? Forget the baby - its a self destructive and self harming act whether or not you are pregnant.

Start thinking about it in those terms rather than just because a woman is pregnant. Yes its more destructive if a woman is pregnant, but ask the right questions rather than trying to punish for it.

You have no evidence to support your rubbish statement. So I do not believe it.

Are you telling me you've never, ever been judgemental on a subject that you feel strongly about?

RedToothBrush, if a woman smokes, that is her decision. Speaking as an ex smoker. But when she is pregnant, I feel that she should take more responsibility for her actions because they are not just harming her but the life growing inside her who doesn't have a choice in the matter.

What evidence do you want beyond the fact that lots if women smoke at least a little bit and most babies are born fine. Have you got evidence that babies are put at such great harm anytime a mother smokes because you know all that stuff about blood supply down the cord? That gets cut off sometimes for a load of different reasons and babies are resilient. That doesn't mean it is a GOOD thing but it also is not an excuse for doing this awful judgemental test.

You know what happens in jurisdictions where the life growing inside her is given precedence over the mother don't you Futterby?

You cannot avoid any risk to the baby when you are pregnant. Does it help for us to tell you what a silly idea it was to be drinking and smoking and doing drugs when you were risking pregnancy or is it actually just mean and nasty and totally pointless?

I want the cold, hard facts Offred. Which you can't supply, because your statistics are made up.

Here's some evidence for you. www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/tobaccocancer/womenandsmoking/women-and-smoking-health-of-others

I get that you are probably feeling a lot of pressure to be very responsible so young and I think you are brilliant for giving up smoking and taking your pregnancy so seriously but please just be a little kinder to other people.

There are no such thing a cold hard facts I'm afraid. Only research, which is inevitably flawed.