Smoke Free Birmingham

The launch of a new smoking in pregnancy pilot took place in Birmingham on 28 May.

The pilot will ensure all pregnant women are screened by trained midwives and asked to give a sample of breath to assess their carbon monoxide levels. Women who are identified as smokers (or who are exposed to CO in some other way, such as second-hand smoke or a faulty gas appliance) will be referred to a specialist service where they can be assessed and offered the most appropriate support from a range of services.

A trailer emblazoned with the campaign’s health message ‘you smoke, baby does too’ branding was positioned on Birmingham’s High Street and, despite poor weather, the launch was a great success with many pregnant women agreeing to be CO monitored and signing up to quit.

Midwives across Birmingham have been provided with equipment and referral packs and have undertaken brief intervention training to equip them to monitor women successfully

The project is a collaboration between Birmingham Health & Wellbeing Partnership, Birmingham PCTs and the Tobacco Control Collaborating Centre.

The TCCC is now looking at marketing this service nationwide and will be contacting smoking in pregnancy advisors over the summer period.
For more information contact the TCCC on 01926 490190 or email:
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