Sheffield
NHS Stop Smoking Service is starting 2004
offering Sheffield’s newest citizens
a healthier start to their lives. The service
has appointed Jane Grice as a second Stop
Smoking Midwife to help support pregnant
women and their families to give up smoking.
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Pam
& Jane |
With 23 years Midwifery
experience, Jane decided it was time for
a new challenge. Increasing
awareness of the
dangers of smoking by and around pregnant
women meant Sheffield Stop Smoking Service’s
current midwife Pam Hancock has been bombarded
with women and their families wanting to
give up smoking. Recognising that this is
great news for unborn babies in the city,
the service wasted no time appointing Jane.
Jane said: "Stopping
smoking is the single most important thing
a pregnant woman and her family can do for
the health of their unborn baby and I am
pleased that I can assist women and their
families who genuinely want to stop smoking.
It is great news for the future health of
the city that this service is so in demand."
Pam Hancock says
Jane’s appointment is not just good
news for the unborn babies in the city.
"In Sheffield around 200 children under
the age of five are admitted to hospital
every year with illnesses resulting from
secondary smoking.
"Having Jane
on board means that we can improve upon
the service we already provide. Reducing
waiting times and offering more support
helps us towards reaching our ultimate aim
of smoke free homes. We can now work closely
with pregnant women and their families for
longer and ensure that they maintain their
quit status throughout the pregnancy and
beyond."
The midwives emphasise
that it is a new start for family and friends
and should spark a lifestyle change for
everyone. To cement this they have even
started taking large baskets of fruit to
successful long-term quitters to also encourage
healthier eating.
One family that recently
felt the benefits of stopping smoking were
Richard and Sharon Craig. Both stopped smoking
at the beginning of their pregnancy and
are still enjoying a smoke free home with
the newborn baby, Luke.
Richard said: "Luke
recently developed a chest infection and
the first question we were asked at the
hospital was ‘do you smoke?’
We were so pleased to say we don’t
and haven’t during the pregnancy.
It was a terrific weight lifted off our
shoulders knowing that we were not responsible
for Luke developing the infection."
"However,"
Pam concludes: "One thing that Jane
and I are really highlighting to our ladies
is that they have to stop smoking for themselves,
it is the best way to ensure that they stay
quit. They will improve their babies’
health if they stop smoking but they will
also benefit their own health and that of
the rest of the family, and that should
not be forgotten."
Support offered by
the Sheffield NHS Stop Smoking Midwifery
Service includes one-to-one sessions with
specially trained midwives who will arrange
to meet the quitter at a time and place
to suit them. Support for mums-to-be and
their families will continue over a number
of weeks, offering help to stay stopped
and tips to resist cravings.
The growth and popularity
of the service is also raising greater awareness
amongst hospital staff and GPs about the
benefits to a newborn of a smoke free environment.
This is ensuring that at all stages of pregnancy
women are aware of the support available
to them and the dangers of continuing smoking
through pregnancy.
For details
of the Sheffield NHS Stop Smoking Midwifery
Service please call the Sheffield Stop Smoking
helpline on freephone 0800 068 4490. Alternatively
pregnant women interested should talk to
their GP or midwife.
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