Despite knowing the fact that smoking is injurious for baby’s health and should be avoided during pregnancies, majority of the women in North-East smokes. They proudly confessed that they are smokers and continue to do that till they have their babies.

The NHS Information Centre data revealed that there is a big difference between smoking rates in North-East and London. There are more than threefold of women smokers in North-East than in London. However, the smoking rates have declined by 15.1% in North-East, but the present number is still big.

The NHS Information Centre Chief Executive, Tim Straughan, said, “Smoking can cause a range of serious health problems, including lower birth weight, pre-term birth, placental complications and prenatal mortality. The statistics we have published today highlight stark regional variation in the proportion of women smoking at the time of giving birth”.

The statistics will be of great use when a non-smoking activity or camping will be launched in the country or in the high-risk regions. A lot of efforts have been done and the decline in the number of smoking rate is a big proof of it. This however does not mean an end to the efforts as a lot more needs to be done.

Professor Rod Thompson, who is the Director of public health at the Shropshire County Primary Care Trust, told that friends and family members can be of great help for a woman smoker. With their immense support, a woman can leave the smoking habit.

There are many health services also available with the clinics as well as in the NHS. Dr. Chris Weiner, who is the Public Health consultant for NHS Telford and Wrekin, affirmed that they have been running this specialized service for a long time. One- to-one interactive sessions, counseling and a range of therapies are provided to people who want to leave their smoking habit.