Health

Rewards for pregnant women who quit smoking

by LotusFlower | October 16, 2008 at 08:47 pm

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Despite all that we know about the effects of smoking on the unborn baby it's shocking to find that in some areas of the UK more than 20% of pregnant women smoke throughout their pregnancy.

This scheme seeks to reward women that quit smoking during pregnancy with gifts. It's an approach that some don't like feeling it rewards 'badly behaved' mums-to-be but if it helps them quit and protects the unborn babies from smoke damage then some feel it's worth doing.

Mothers-to-be are to be offered gift vouchers and beauty treatments to encourage them to give up smoking, the Telford and Wrekin NHS trust in Shropshire announced.

The trust has been cautioned that the move could be seen by some as rewarding bad behaviour.

Expectant mothers who agree to a trial programme will undergo tests such as carbon monoxide monitoring and a breath test that will show whether they have smoked recently.

Samples of urine and saliva may also be taken to prove that their bodies are free of nicotine and other harmful substances found in cigarettes.