by RICHARD HOOTON

A CAMPAIGN in Oldham is aiming to help mums-to-be stay smoke free.

NHS Oldham hopes the drive will encourage expectant mothers to stop smoking by raising awareness of the immediate health benefits of quitting for mum and baby.

Launched this month, it will highlight the range of NHS Stop-Smoking Services available and will run alongside a series of new TV adverts created by Smoke-free North-West.

Liz Woodworth, of Oldham stop-smoking service, said: “There is plenty of help on offer. All pregnant women in Oldham are offered home visits. This enables us to meet partners and other family members who smoke and encourage them to stop. We also introduce them to the smoke-free homes initiative. The NHS Pregnancy Smoking Helpline also gives friendly advice and support.

“Our work is important because every cigarette smoked by a pregnant woman harms their baby, restricting the essential oxygen supply so their tiny heart has to beat harder every time the mum-to-be smokes.

“There is no carbon monoxide detected in the body after 24 hours so mum to be and baby benefit almost immediately.”

More than three-quarters of pregnant women in Oldham are smoke-free during pregnancy. But for the remaining 21.1 per cent, research shows it can be a particularly difficult time to stop smoking. Last year, 2,987 pregnant women in the region successfully stopped smoking with the NHS stop-smoking service.

Richard Pollitt, tobacco control lead for Oldham, said: “Research has shown that smokers who quit with NHS support are up to four times more likely to succeed. Quitting is not easy and it can take some smokers several times to get off cigarettes for good.”

Top tips for pregnant women going smoke free include:

Throw out ashtrays, matches and lighters and replace them with potpourri, which will make your home smell fresh.

Start a savings jar and put in money saved from not smoking and watch how fast it grows.

Tell everyone your home is a smoke free zone so you won’t be tempted by other people smoking and your baby won’t be suffering from other people’s smoke.

Work out when and where you used to smoke, so you know when your trigger times are, and think of ways to avoid them.

There are some nicotine replacement therapies that are safe to use in pregnancy and are free on prescription for those finding it tough. Ask your GP.

Quitting smoking can be stressful so chill out by taking a soak in the bath.

Put scan pictures up around the house, especially in places you used to smoke.

Specialist advisors on 0800 169 9169 can help you through when cravings get too much.

Swimming is great exercise for pregnant women.

Any pregnant woman planning to quit smoking should contact Oldham’s specialist stop smoking service on 0800-328 8534 or the NHS Pregnancy Smoking Helpline on 0800-169 9169 and find out where their local service is.