The Care Forum was recruited in 2018 to talk confidentially with women who did not stop smoking during pregnancy in Bristol and North Somerset. We asked why they didn’t stop smoking, and asked them how support could work better in future.
We wanted to find out whether there is any advice, information or other influences which might have improved their ability to stop smoking.
We also asked about specific points on the smoking support pathway (like visits from the midwife, or stop smoking phone calls) to find out how useful different types of support were for this group of women, their partners and families.
We found that many women cut down smoking during pregnancy, but increased once their pregnancy ended. Some of them reported that support was not very well connected between services which supported them before they gave birth, and those which supported them afterwards. We recommended that more focus should be given to support for women once their pregnancy finishes, and that these types of support should be more joined-up.
The Care Forum regularly engages with local people across the South West – if you would like to find out more, or talk to us about a project you are planning, please get in touch to find out how we can work with you.
Morgan Daly – Interim CEO