After experiencing complications including a placental rupture and a heartbreaking miscarriage, Chelsea Brown, 29, from Guide Post, Northumberland, was determined to quit smoking when she became pregnant again. With support from the Best Start in Life team at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust, she successfully gave up the habit and recently gave birth to a healthy baby girl, Dulcie.
Smoking remains the most significant modifiable risk factor during pregnancy, and the trust has one of the lowest rates of new mums smoking in the country. In the past year, just 5% of women were smoking at the point of giving birth, down from 13% five years ago—a reduction of 2,155 women.
Personalised support from a Best Start in Life adviser
Chelsea was supported by Claire, a Best Start in Life adviser—part of a team launched in May 2022. Chelsea said: "During my last two pregnancies, I was told to stop smoking after I had a placental rupture, which they said could be linked to smoking. I had also previously miscarried, so when I found out I was pregnant again, I wanted to give quitting my best chance."
"At my first appointment with Claire, we sat down, talked things through and set goals, which really helped me stay on track. Claire wasn’t just there to support me with quitting smoking – she listened, supported me and gave advice on everything to do with my pregnancy. My partner stopped smoking too, and Claire worked with him so we could support each other."
Transformative results for mother and baby
Quitting smoking has been transformative for Chelsea and her family. She added: "My feelings about smoking have completely changed. My children don’t smell of smoke, my house doesn’t smell of smoke, and even food tastes different. It feels amazing knowing my daughter isn’t around second-hand smoke and that we’re both healthy."
"With the money we’ve saved, we’ve been able to buy Dulcie new things and even start saving towards a new house. If I can stop smoking, I think anyone can."
NHS success rates and support
NHS bosses reported that in the past year, 72% of women who received support from the Best Start in Life team successfully quit smoking. The team provides free nicotine replacement therapy, e-cigarettes, and specialist adviser support. The service is one of eight across the North East and North Cumbria to receive extra funding.
Smoking during pregnancy restricts oxygen to the unborn baby, exposes it to toxins, triples the risk of sudden infant death, and is linked to stillbirth, miscarriage, and pre-term birth.
Health leaders praise the reduction
Carla Anderson, public health matron for maternity, children and young people at Northumbria Healthcare, said: "The sustained drop in smoking rates shows that women in our care at Northumbria Healthcare can overcome tobacco dependency. Our Best Start in Life pathway is unique and built on a holistic model of care, giving consistent and trusted support throughout pregnancy, which is key to achieving a successful quit."
"Quitting smoking in pregnancy is one of the best things you can do for your health and your baby’s, with lifelong benefits for both, so it’s fantastic to see such a significant reduction in smoking rates."
Katy Lissaman, the trust's head of midwifery, added: "We’ve reduced our smoking at time of delivery rate to just 3% of all women booked into our care across Northumberland and North Tyneside. We’re leading the way with a highly supportive smoking cessation pathway during pregnancy, giving us a real opportunity to improve outcomes for both mums and babies."
Louise Gray, director of public health in North Tyneside, said: "Reducing smoking in pregnancy is one of the most important things we can do to give babies the best start in life, and I’m extremely proud that North Tyneside now has one of the lowest rates in the country."
Gill O'Neil, director of public health in Northumberland, said: "This is such an achievement and what a difference it is making to the lives of our mothers and babies born in Northumberland. Such dedication, passion and determination to get to this point. So proud of the collective efforts and I know we won't stop here."
