Stop smoking services for pregnant women/parents
Southwark Smoking Cessation Service can help you reach your goal of giving up smoking. The service offers support to pregnant women and parents/carers with children under four. Women are encouraged to stop smoking before they become pregnant, however, not all pregnancies are planned.
Contact:
Doris Gaga or Rowan Agate
Southwark Smoking Cessation Counsellors for Pregnant Women and New Mothers
Phone: 020 7394 8696
Freephone: 0800 169 6002
If you are a pregnant smoker or parent/carer of pre-school children we have a service which is tailored to meet your specific needs. We can provide:
- one-to-one support
- strategies for quitting
- coping with withdrawal
- managing cravings and stress
- staying stopped
Smoking during pregnancy
This is not only bad for the mother it is also bad for the unborn child. For the mother it can lead to a miscarrage, bleeding and nausea. For the baby it can lead to reduced birth weight, premature birth and stillbirth. It also trebles the risk of cot death and there is an increased risk of chest infections and asthma. If you plan to get pregnant give up. If you are already pregnant it is not too late. Stopping smoking leads to less morning sickness and fewer complications. Your baby will also be more content after they are born.
Nationally around a third of all pregnant women are smokers. Some will quit smoking spontaneously without any assistance from a health professional, however many will struggle without additional support. Nicotine is highly addictive and pregnant women break down nicotine at a faster rate, so some pregnant women may find themselves craving nicotine more than ever.
Our services are free and are designed to be flexible to meet your needs
Choice is an important factor in any attempt to give up smoking and the range of Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT) are available free of charge. If you are a pregnant smoker who is considering giving up smoking, it is important that you meet with the pregnancy counsellor before setting your quit date - call 020 7394 8696. You can also seek a referral through your doctor or midwife.