The fourth, fully revised edition of this briefing gives expert, concise guidance on how to deliver Very Brief Advice (VBA+) to pregnant women who smoke and how to carry out routine carbon monoxide (CO) monitoring with all pregnant women.
Smoking in pregnancy is a significant health problem for the mother and the baby. Many women who smoke will quit by themselves before becoming pregnant and others will stop once their pregnancy is confirmed; other pregnant women will need considerable support to stop smoking successfully.
This NCSCT Standard Treatment Programme (STP) for Pregnant Women describes the components of a structured individual face-to-face smoking cessation intervention with a pregnant woman who smokes.
The document reflects the latest evidence in terms of how best to support women during pregnancy with quitting and maintaining cessation during the post-partum period, acknowledging the special considerations that may affect a pregnant
womans motivation and ability to quit smoking.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a clarification on directly supplying nicotine replacement therapy (NRT): “Supply of these products by non-medically qualified staff is permitted in medicines legislation. This is subject to the products being pre-packed and supplied from lockable premises.”
This means that whilst staff who are not clinically registered can provide a direct supply of NRT, unfortunately they can’t do it in people’s homes. This briefing gives further guidance.