Norfolk anti-smoking campaign host event to tackle pregnant smoking

A group has been set up to help pregnant women stop smoking. Photo: Archant

Healthcare professionals are invited to the event to learn how to support expectant mothers quitting the habit.

Midwives, health visitors and other healthcare workers will be at Dereham Football Club on Monday, October 2, from 12-4pm to listen to talks on maternal smoking.

The main speaker will be Hilary Wareing, from Public Health England's Smoking in Pregnancy challenge group,

Smokefree Norfolk is also launching a support group to help pregnant mums give up, called 'Quit for Me'.

Read more: New Norwich support group to help mothers-to-be stop smoking

Four weekly meetings will be held at Hellesdon Library, from Monday, October 9, at 1.30pm.

Dr Louise Smith, director of public health for Norfolk said: 'We are working closely with others in the county to tackle the levels of smoking during pregnancy.'

She added: 'It's still worth stopping even if you smoked at the start of the pregnancy.'

Dr Smith also said that if pregnant mothers quit by the 15th week of their pregnancy, the risk of the baby being born early or having a low birth weight is the same as that of a non-smoker.

She described the 'Quit for Me' events as 'a great way for pregnant mums to gain support with stopping smoking'.

Smokefree Norfolk are also running stop smoking sessions at libraries across the county for anyone who wants to quit during the Stoptober campaign.

Read more: Smoking hot! Suffolk proves a winner for new quit smoking TV advert

These will be at Wroxham Library from 10am - 1pm on Tuesday, October 10; Taverham library from 2.30pm – 5pm on Thursday, October 12; Aylsham Library from 9.30am - 12.30pm on Thursday, October 19; and Sprowston Library from 10am - 1pm on Tuesday, October 31.

For more information or to book a place at the 'Quit for Me' sessions call 0800 0854 113 or email ecch.stopsmoking@nhs.net