London’s first Smokefree Pregnancy Week

Stopping smoking is the best thing you can do for your baby.

The London Smokefree Pregnancy Week (#LDNSmokefreepreg) is an awareness campaign running from 18 – 22 November, aimed at both pregnant women smokers and healthcare professionals to raise awareness of the issue in London and to give support and signposting to advice.

Risk reduction

In 2022, there were 106,696 live births in London. With 3.9% of pregnant women in London smoking at time of delivery, this equates to 4,200 babies being born in London to a smoker. There are well known and severe health harm implications for both the mother and the baby including: still birth; premature birth; low birth weight; ectopic pregnancy and increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Quitting smoking greatly reduces these risks, as well as providing health benefits to the mother.

Tracy Parr, Programme Director for Stop Smoking London says: “To support women, we have produced information and videos featuring health professionals to help them on their way to a smoke-free pregnancy.

“The clinicians who support this campaign are very clear in terms of the negative impact of smoking on both mother and baby.”

Support for Lambeth residents

Pregnant smokers and their partners can get free one-to-one behavioural support, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) or vaping kits from the Lambeth Specialist Stop Smoking Service, delivered by Guy’s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust. Tel: 0800 856 3409 or 020 3049 5791 Email: gst-tr.stopsmokinglambeth@nhs.net

Why is this important to Lambeth Together?

We want more people in Lambeth to lead healthy lives and have good physical and emotional health and wellbeing for as long as possible. Smoking cessation an important aspect of this and is included as part of the Lambeth Together Staying Healthy Programme.

Further information and support

• Smoking and Pregnancy: Essential Information and Tips
• Find stop smoking services