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Should pregnant women be tested to see if they are smokers?
Thursday 24th June 2010, 1:41PM BST.
All pregnant women should have breath tests to see whether they are smokers or not, the UK’s health watchdog said.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence said that every expectant mother should be encouraged to have a carbon monoxide test to see whether they smoke so they can get the appropriate advice for quitting.
However, the recommendation was criticised by midwives who said medical practitioners should encourage women to quit smoking instead of making them feel guilty.
The watchdog said the new guidelines are not aimed at penalising smokers but hope to help women and their families give up smoking during and after pregnancy.
Nice director of the centre of public health excellence Professor Mike Kelly said: “During pregnancy, smoking puts the health of the women and her unborn baby at great risk both in the short and long-term, and small children who are exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to suffer from respiratory problems.
“One of our recommendations is for midwives to encourage all pregnant women to have their carbon monoxide levels tested and discuss the results with them.
“This isn’t to penalise them if they have been smoking, but instead will be a useful way to show women that both smoking and passive smoking can lead to having high levels of carbon monoxide in their systems.”
However, Royal College of Midwives education and research manager Sue Macdonald said the use of the breath test may make women feel “guilty”.
Ms Macdonald said: “Strategies for smoking cessation should apply to all women regardless of being pregnant.”
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Given the elusive nature of carbon monoxide and the injurious risks for the unborn child, certainly test all pregnant women. Test them at all prenatal visits. It is not only smoking that can elevate CO levels in the mother, consider faulty car exhaust systems and gas appliances, even wood burning fireplace and more. Due the seasonal flucuations, testing at each visit is best.
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