Source: Manchester Evening News (uk)
Date: 2010-01-28
Author:  Helen Clifton,
In Manchester, more and more women are realising the dangerous
impact smoking has on their unborn child. Although 15 per cent of
pregnant women in the city still smoke, the figure has dropped by
eight per cent over the last four years.

"The figure is just one per cent above the national average, and
four per cent below the North West average," says Ali Reid,
Senior Public Health Development Advisor with NHS Manchester, and
member of the North West Smoke-Free Pregnancy Advisory Group. "We
are doing really, really well. It is a success story."

Ali says the huge drop is down to a concerted effort to reach
mothers in their communities.

"We have had a massive training programme for staff in
children\'s centres, and they can now answer questions and talk to
parents about smoke-free homes and stopping smoking. And when
parents go for their very first antenatal appointment, the
midwife will talk to them about the benefits of a smoke-free
pregnancy."

But there is still work to be done. There are around 1,200
pregnant women in Manchester who still smoke, the majority of
whom are in their early twenties. Almost half of prospective mums
aged under 20 smoke.