New research highlighted by the Sheffield NHS Stop Smoking Service shows how the 85 pregnant Sheffield women and their partners who have given up smoking over the past year with the help of the service, have made a giant contribution to the health of their unborn child.

The research conducted in the United States has shown that women who continue to smoke during pregnancy are putting their unborn child through the same risks as they would be were they taking illegal drugs.

Research by Brown University, Rhode Island (June 2003) found that even women who smoke just six to seven cigarettes per day gave birth to babies more jittery, excitable, stiffer and more difficult to console than new-borns of non-smokers. The higher the dose of nicotine the mother takes, the greater the signs of stress in her new baby. It is thought that the symptoms are a ‘nicotine withdrawal’ response, similar to the withdrawal response measured in new-born babies of mothers who use crack cocaine or heroin whilst pregnant.

Pam Hancock is a specialist midwife for the Sheffield NHS Stop Smoking Service. She is dedicated to supporting pregnant women and their families who wish to stop smoking in pregnancy. She said: “This new research simply furthers the case for women to give up smoking when they become pregnant. There are a number of dangers for unborn and new-born babies who are exposed to tobacco, but six times more women would put their children at risk of side-effects from cigarettes than illegal drugs, people assume because it is legal it is safe.

“Those women who have given up smoking in the past year should truly be congratulated, smoking is an addiction and with all the best intentions in the world quitting is a difficult process. That is why the Stop Smoking Service offers my help, and is planning a big increase in the support offered to pregnant smokers. Pregnant women, their families, families with babies and young children or even families that are trying to get pregnant should call the Sheffield NHS Stop Smoking freephone number on 0800 068 4490 and immediately improve the health of their unborn or new-born child.”

Recent International research found that exposure to tobacco smoke during pregnancy also increases the risk of attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.

The study, conducted by researchers in Denmark, Sweden, Finland and the UK, examined whether exposure to tobacco, alcohol and caffeine before pregnancy increases the risk of ADHD in humans. The evidence was strongest for a link between ADHD and prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke.