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!

[K8Middleton]

I was going by Schro's comments about her experience: nicotine sweets etc. Sounds bloody awful :(

[WandaDoff]

Glasgow were doing the test as standard when I was pregnant with DD. She'll be 4 in August.

[HoleyGhost]

Can we have whoever was responsible for implementing this in Glasgow on for a webchat? They must have enough data by now to be able to objectively assess its effectiveness.

They are also in a good position to address the ethical concerns.

[WandaDoff]

The midwives were great with me, they even did home visits for me as I was caring for my MIL & couldn't sit in a clinic all afternoon for an appt.

[HoleyGhost]

Someone from NICE would also be very interesting. They presumably have access to the same data.

[BlackSwan7]

Bumbolina

The unborn fetus doesn't have a choice because it is essentially a parasite that feeds off the woman's body. Maternal rights trump fetal rights and that's exactly how it should be.

It may be harsh, but that's how it is. We don't ask to be born, we don't get to choose our families, we don't get to choose that we are born to a woman under 35 etc etc. None of us get to choose these things because we aren't capable of making that choice.

This whole business about the fetus having a choice is just bizarre.

[BlackSwan7]

Well, can't a woman simply refuse this test? They honestly can't force any aspect of ante-natal care on a woman.

[cardamomginger]

Patronising, infantalising and useless. Thin end of a dangerous wedge.

[NumptyMum]

Um, doesn't that happen already? Or by early pregnancy do you mean prior to booking in? I had some kind of 'do you smoke' test when booking in for each of my 2 pregnancies, each time it showed 'positive' and yet I don't smoke. We lived in a city at the time, so I could only guess it was because of pollution or our heavily smoking neighbour below our flat. It made me worried for the sake of our son's health to think I showed as a smoker, because we had no idea where it came from. The MW was surprised that it showed positive given I said I didn't smoke; so I would not be happy if people were lectured off the back of it, given its skewed results for one non-smoker.

[pumpkinsweetie]

I agree this is a start of something and i dread to think of what other tests they have thought up!
I'm newly pregnant & will not be partaking in an of this nonsense as a: i have never smoked & b: its pointless, infantile and waste of rescourse that could be better spent elsewhere. Next they will be testing us to see whether we have dared have a cup of coffee

[TunipTheVegedude]

This sounds like the thin end of the wedge to me. By the time our dds are having babies they'll be testing them for alcohol and caffeine.
The stuff men do that affects the quality of their sperm, however, will remain unmonitored.

[IThinkOfHappyWhenIThinkOfYou]

Ridiculous and part of the culture of treating women as idiots who were stupid enough to get pregnant. Why assume that pregnancy turns you into a lying thicko? Everyone's mother was a pregnant woman once.

[Jojobump1986]

I did a breath test at my booking appt. Never smoked in my life but it didn't seem like a big deal to blow into a tube for a couple of seconds. The midwife said they'd picked up some dodgy boilers by doing the test - no idea if that was true though!

[IfAtFirstUDontSucceed]

I had to do this at my booking appointment and again at my 16 week appointment last summer. I just assumed it was standard practice.

As I don't smoke I didn't think anything of it and didnt have any objections but did come away thinking what would have they done if I did smoke and it came back positive. Surely most people are aware of the risks of smoking while pregnant, and id imagine that there is already sufficient advice / help and literature available. I can't see what benefit this test is other than putting the future mother to shame.

[MadameJosephine]

I am a midwife and think its a terrible idea. When I meet a woman at her booking appointment it is my first opportunity to begin to get to know her and her family and to foster a relationship built on trust. How on earth am I supposed to do that when I am expected to ask her to prove to me that she is a non smoker? What next, a breathalyser and a drug screen? Ludicrous!

[ClaraOswinOswald]

I just don't see what advantage a test like this would have. If people want to/can give up (it is an addiction after all) then they will. If they don't want to/can't, nothing will be changed other than the relationship between pregnant women and healthcare professionals. No-one will gain anything from this. Surely the same leaflets are available without the test.

[sleepyhead]

I had it with ds1 who'll be 7 in November, and ds2 (5 weeks). Also Glasgow.

I'm a non-smoker so obv knew it would be neg. Took 2 seconds of my time and was mildly reassuring that having very heavy smokers living to the left, right and underneath my flat (our clothes & other belongings all smell faintly of stale smoke despite both dh & I being non-smokers) wasn't resulting in any measurable level of exposure for me.

I agree that there should absolutely be no pressure if someone refuses the test though. I guess it depends who you see - I can't imagine any of the staff I encountered through either of my pgs forcing anything on anyone - having said that I didn't refuse any tests so may be naive in thinking this.

[Chandelierforagirl]

I've taken the test with each of my pregnancies. I felt like a naughty child who wasn't to be trusted, and felt so patronised when I passed the test. I just presumed I had to. This thread has reminded me that I have a choice.

[Shellywelly1973]

I don't actually understand the point of the test.

If a women lies about smoking in pregnancy she obviously has decided to continue smoking with the full knowledge of the possible consequences.

This test could make some vunrable women consider not seeking medical care if they think or perceive critism from hcp's

[LoganMummy]

Love the idea of a web chat. Especially keen to know why test for this instead of Group B Strep as someone mentioned above.

[pumpkinsweetie]

Exactly Logan, it was me who mentioned that Strep B surely should take presidence over this silly test, as babies die from Strep B, and a simple test on the Nhs could save many whereas at the moment mothers have to pay for this test.

[Springforward]

I took the CO test on my booking appointment in my current pregnancy. It didn't occur to me to be offended, even as a 7+ year ex-smoker. Interestingly the mw pointed out that it would also pick up signs of faulty gas appliances at home. I could have refused it if I'd chosen to, it was offered rather than imposed, as I recall.

[pumpkinsweetie]

And lets face it who actually knew there was a test for it, i only know after reading cases of babies dying from it and it's noted that this test which costs just £18 could save many. But no they waste money and rescourses on this crap, it's disgusting!