NHSGGC are taking steps to help pregnant mums make positive changes to their health through the Quit Your Way pregnancy service.
Smoking during pregnancy can have a number of health implications for women and their babies such as a greater risk of miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight and still birth. Smoking during pregnancy also increases the risk of children developing a number of respiratory conditions, learning difficulties as well as problems of the ear, nose and throat but the health board are helping mothers kick the habit.
Pregnancy is a great time to stop smoking and The Quit Your Way Pregnancy service is a specialist service that offers free advice and support including access to Nicotine Replacement Therapy as well as initiatives such as the store gift card incentive to all women who want to stop smoking.
Stopping smoking during pregnancy provides a fantastic opportunity to help improve a baby’s health, growth and development as well as a woman’s own health and well-being both during and after pregnancy.
Geraldine Lucas, Health Improvement and Tobacco Control Lead, said: “By quitting smoking during pregnancy, expectant mothers are making a positive choice for themselves and their babies and we are committed to ensuring mothers to be have all the support and motivation they need to stop.
“We understand that quitting can be extremely difficult but we are here to help and as part of our commitment to tackling smoking, our QYW Pregnancy Service offers an incentive programme which can provide up to £220 in Love2Shop gift cards to help give mothers that extra bit of motivation to kick the habit and prepare or plan for the arrival of their baby.”
More information on the eligibility criteria to take part in the incentives programme is available from the QYW Pregnancy service or your midwife.
The QYW Pregnancy Service not only helps expectant mothers quit but can support partners or other family members too, helping to ensure a smoke free home for both mum and baby.
Geraldine added: “We would encourage all pregnant woman who are struggling to quit to reach out to our service and our gift card incentive is a great way to start that journey.
“The benefits of stopping during pregnancy for both mum and baby are very real and in our current cost of living crisis, stopping smoking can help financially too.”
For more information on services available to stop smoking while pregnant, please visit the NHS Website or NHS Inform.
Alternatively, smoking services can be contacted on the Quit Your Way helpline on 0800 84 84 84.