The number of women in the Midlands known to be smokers at time of giving birth has fallen leading to nearly 2,000 more smokefree babies being born in the region last year.  

Recent statistics on women’s smoking status at time of delivery  shows that in the Midlands ICB and region, 6.9% of women were known to be smokers when they delivered their baby in 2024/25 – down from 8.7% in 2023/24.  

This month marks Stoptober, a public health campaign that runs throughout October, empowering people to quit smoking.   

In the Midlands, pregnant women who smoke are offered help to quit through every NHS maternity service in the region. All 21 maternity services across the region offers stop smoking advice and support.   

Smoking whilst pregnant is extremely dangerous as inhaling carbon monoxide, a harmful chemical present in cigarette smoke, reduces the amount of oxygen getting to the baby in the womb and increases the chance of miscarriage, stillbirth and sudden infant death.  

Across Lincolnshire, a team of midwives support mothers in pregnancy to stop smoking through STAAR (Stop Smoking Team, Advice, Action & Refer) a specialist maternity tobacco dependency service embedded within maternity services at United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospital Trust, commissioned by Lincolnshire ICB.  

They provide support throughout the community in Children’s centres and alongside in antenatal clinics, offering a programme of behavioural support through face-to-face appointments and free nicotine replacement e-cigarettes.   

Alexandra, who has accessed STAAR during pregnancy, said: “Although I stopped smoking without help when I figured out I was pregnant, I’m getting all the support from STAAR team I need. Lauren C in the STAAR team is amazing and gets me all the information I’d like to know.”  

Melisa, who has also accessed STAAR said: “I didn’t think STAAR would be able to support me to quit smoking but after discussing my options with Gemma in the STAAR team and a personalised programme using the Swap to Stop scheme, I have been able to successfully quit smoking.”  

Gillian Walker, a tobacco dependency specialist midwife who leads the team of midwives at STAAR, said: “My team has helped many mothers in Lincolnshire to become smokefree. We offer a friendly, non-judgemental service and the support to create a healthier future for themselves and their babies. It is great to see the impact our work is having on ensuring babies across region have a smokefree future.”  

Gaynor Armstrong, Regional Chief Midwifery Officer for NHS England Midlands, said: “It’s really encouraging to see work like the STAAR programme happening leading to more babies being born to mothers who are smokefree in the Midlands. Not smoking while pregnant helps ensure a safer birth by decreasing risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and sudden infant death and helps our excellent perinatal teams to provide the best care possible.”  

Dr Sanjay Agrawal, Prevention Clinical Director, NHS England Midlands, said: “It is never too late to quit smoking and we’ve helped thousands of people to quit smoking in the region in the past year. The Midlands offers tobacco dependency programmes in every hospital in the Midlands, and we know that these services are life-saving.   

“If you smoke, I urge to begin your quitting journey now by speaking to your GP, midwife or going online to learn more about services in your area to help you quit.”