Some Australian Women Not Deterred by Risks of Smoking While Pregnant

Source from:  Brisbane (QLD) Courier-Mail (au)  03/07/2013

ONE in seven Australian women still smoke during pregnancy, despite evidence it puts their baby's health at risk.

New national maternity data shows pregnant women in public hospitals were four times more likely to report smoking, compared with private patients.

But in a positive shift, the overall smoking rate decreased between 2004 -2009, from 16.7 per cent to 14.5 per cent respectively.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report on maternity indicators also showed there are big geographical and socioeconomic differences.

For instance, 13 per cent of women in cities smoke, compared with 36 per cent who live in very remote areas.

Last month, Australian media personality Chrissie Swan was criticised after she confessed to smoking during her pregnancy.

Executive Director of Quit Victoria Fiona Sharkie said research showed about 40 per cent gave up when they found out they were pregnant, a phenomenon known as squitting: spontaneous quitting.

The remainder struggle to kick their addiction.

Ms Sharkie said women need to know that quitting was the best thing they can do for their own health, regardless of whether they were pregnant.

"We can be very judgmental of these people, but what we know is that they need a lot of support and encouragement to give up,'' Ms Sharkie said.

Victorian mother of three Jane Compton-Robins, who has been smoking intermittently for 22 years, gave up smoking during each of her pregnancies, but began again straight after the births.

"I gave up when I found out that I was pregnant because my husband wanted me to and I didn't want it to affect my kid's health.''

She doesn't smoke around her children, but she still plans to quit.

Smoking during pregnancy increases the chance of a pre-term birth, placental complication and perinatal death.

Tobacco smoke exposure also been linked to Sudden Infant death Syndrome (SIDS), childhood diabetes and obesity.

Your Fertility spokeswoman Louise Johnson said smoking can also affect the chances of getting pregnant and the time it takes to conceive.

"Many people don't realise that smoking affects fertility for both women and men and that passive smoking is almost as harmful to fertility as active smoking,'' she said.

It is estimated the negative effects of smoking on fertility are reversed about a year after quitting.

The AIHW report also shows caesarean sections have risen from 25.3 per cent in 2004 to 27.1 per cent in 2009.

ACT and NSW had the lowest rates and the highest were in Queensland and NSW.

Almost a third of all births in private hospitals were c-sections, compared to 22.6 per cent in private hospitals. Enditem