Smoking During Pregnancy , Stigma and Secrets

There is significant evidence to suggest that smoking while pregnant is harmful to the baby increases the risk of miscarriage, and premature birth. The Statistics on smoking, England: 2018 compendium report shows that in 2017-18, 10.8% of pregnant women were known to be smokers at the time of delivery.

A research team from Cardiff University has conducted interviews with a small group of women living in a deprived area in Wales. The researchers wanted to create a more holistically contextualised awareness of health and wellbeing in pregnancy through listening to the mother’s accounts of smoking during pregnancy. 

On analysis of the interviews, several themes emerged.

Social networks, hidden smoking during pregnancy and morality

• For many of the women interviewed, smoking during pregnancy caused negative comments from partners - causing distress.
• The women described feeling it was inappropriate to smoke in public and they felt judged. 
• Several of the women viewed smoking in private acceptable and a place that should be free from condemnation. 

Interaction with maternity health care services

• The women described receiving negative judgement from the midwives.
• They said they felt they were being nagged and bossed around.

Overall the findings emphasise the influence of stigma and judgement, and this increased women smoking in private in home. Judgement can negatively impact a person’s self-identity and force people into secret smoking. Interventions designed to help women stop smoking should address the issue free from judgement and empathetically.