Friends help to achieve smoke-free pregnancies

The Friends are helping to achieve smoke-free pregnancies on the Island by spending £3,653 on 20 micro smokerlyzers. Elinor Jenkins, Reducing Smoking Pregnancy Support, said around 15 per-cent of pregnant women smoke. “It is a significant health risk for these women and unborn babies” she said. It increases the risk of stillbirth, premature labour, miscarriage and slowed foetal growth. Carbon monoxide (CO) levels are raised in smokers, and CO monitors are used to assess these levels in pregnant women at ‘booking’. Certain CO levels can indicate exposure to cigarette smoke or to environmental CO. Readings can then support smoking cessation and/or health messages.