‘To say I’m smokefree is amazing’: pregnant women urged to quit smoking
14/10/2024
Zarah Jaggs
A pregnant woman who is nearly three months smokefree is encouraging others to give up smoking having received "outstanding" support from a specialist maternity service launched by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust earlier this year.
Zarah Jaggs, 32 from Banbury, is one of the more than 100 pregnant women to be supported on their smoking cessation journey by the OUH Specialist Maternity Tobacco Dependency Service, which opened to referrals in January 2024.
Smoking is the single greatest modifiable risk factor for poor outcomes in pregnancy, with nearly one in 10 women still smoking when their baby is born.
The free OUH service provides behavioural support and nicotine replacement products, helping pregnant women across Oxfordshire quit smoking tobacco and to give them, their babies, and families the best outcomes in pregnancy and a smokefree future.
Mother-of-three Zarah, who is expecting her next baby in January 2025, has smoked most of her life and was referred to the service through her midwife.
Her treatment has included weekly nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) meetings and the use of a vape and chewing gum. She started smoking as a 'crutch' to deal with stress before it became "a habit I couldn’t break".
But, now, Zarah is nearly three months smokefree and, speaking during Stoptober, is encouraging other pregnant women to get the support they need.
She said: "My quit journey is going very well – I am now smokefree and getting healthier.
"I had tried to quit many times over the years but it never stuck. Just before I found out I was pregnant, a close family member got mouth cancer and that made me realise I needed to quit and be there for my children.
"As somebody who thought I would never be able to quit, but am now able to say that I'm smokefree, is amazing. The support I have received and continue to receive is outstanding.
"If you feel ready to quit, please do ask your midwife for a referral."
Zarah added: "The service has helped me tremendously. The support I have received and continue to receive means everything to me as it has given me the confidence to do something I had given up hope of being able to do on my own."
12-week programme
More than 100 pregnant women have accepted support since the OUH Specialist Maternity Tobacco Dependency Service launched.
Details of the service, which provides support throughout pregnancy and the postnatal period, are shared at the start of the pregnancy and an automatic referral can be sent, if appropriate. The service then makes contact to offer support. Referrals can be made via any member of the Maternity team at any point during pregnancy.
The team of six provide a 12-week programme that includes one-to-one support, information about useful products, and help with setting a quit date. It also offers discussions on dealing with triggers and difficult situations, as well as a support network for the women and their families.
Rachael Gosling, Healthy Lifestyle and Substance Use Midwife at OUH, said: "Tobacco treatment services are being rolled out across a range of NHS settings, and we are pleased to be helping women who need us from across Oxfordshire.
"Our judgement-free service is here to support pregnant women’s attempt to quit and remain smokefree during their pregnancy. We are committed to supporting these women and their families every step of the way towards a healthier future."
Benefits of smoking cessation
Every cigarette smoked contains more than 4,000 chemicals, many of which are dangerous. Stopping smoking helps both mother and baby immediately, helping to clear harmful gases, such as carbon monoxide, from the body.
The benefits of stopping smoking while pregnant include:
- a reduced risk of complications in pregnancy and birth,
- a better chance of a healthier pregnancy and a healthier baby,
- reduced risk of stillbirth,
- less chance of a premature birth,
- a healthier birth weight for baby – babies of smokers are, on average, lighter than other babies, which can cause problems during and after labour,
- a reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as 'cot death'.