Mossley Fields Surgery, Fisher Road Bloxwich walsall WS32TA, Tel: 01922 477226
Smokefree Homes & Preconception Advice
A smokefree home protects your loved ones
Passive smoking – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Smoking in the home will have an impact on everyone living and visiting that home. Toxins within cigarette smoke can remain within the home for 5 hours and can easily spread from room to room even with the doors closed.
By stopping smoking, you’ll help to protect your non-smoking friends and family, too.
Breathing in secondhand smoke increases the risk of lung cancer, heart disease and stroke.
Children and passive smoking
Passive smoking is especially harmful for children as they have less well-developed airways, lungs and immune systems.
Children who live in a household where at least 1 person smokes are more likely to develop:
- Asthma
- chest infections – like pneumonia and bronchitis
- meningitis
- ear infections
- coughs and colds
Children are particularly vulnerable in the family car where secondhand smoke can reach hazardous levels even with the windows open.
To protect children, a ban on smoking in cars and other vehicles carrying children was introduced in October 2015. It is now against the law to smoke in a private vehicle if there’s a young person under 18 present.
Stopping Smoking
It is ideal if you and your partner can stop smoking at least four months before getting pregnant but stopping at any point really helps. For local help to quit smoking, please call One You Walsall | Mytime Active
01922 444 044 (Mon to Fri 9am to 6pm)
For more information about how smoking affects both the mother, father and baby please see
How smoking affects female and male fertility | Tommy’s (tommys.org)
The risks of secondhand smoke | Tommy’s (tommys.org)
Mental Health Support
Pregnancy can be a time of joy and expectation but can bring feelings of anxiety. You do not need to struggle alone. It is important to talk to friends, your midwife, the Health in Pregnancy team, your GP or to the below;
Walsall Talking Therapy Service (NHS Talking Therapies)
NHS talking therapies can help you if you’re struggling to cope with feelings of anxiety or depression. Rest assured it’s totally confidential.
You can self-refer by;
0800 953 0995
talkingtherapies.walsall@nhs.net
complete a form online at https://www.blackcountryhealthcare.nhs.uk/walsall-talking-therapies
Find out more: www.nhs.uk/talk
Walsall Pregnancy Help (WPH)
WPH offer a specialist service relative to pregnancy (Walsall Pregnancy Help) and a general counselling service and educational service (WPH Counselling and Education Services). Their services are totally unbiased and are there to meet the needs of all, Appointments can be arranged either through direct referral from statutory organisations or by;
01922 649 000
wphcounselling@btconnect.com
http://www.wphcounselling.org/
For further information about supporting your mental health before, during and after pregnancy, see Mental health before, during and after pregnancy | Tommy’s (tommys.org)
Healthy Lifestyles Services
One You Walsall is a free healthy lifestyle service dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of all residents across Walsall. Our services are here to help you make great choices in your lifestyle including: physical activity; healthy eating; weight loss; emotional wellbeing; welfare; alcohol reduction; quitting smoking; NHS Health Checks. The team can support everyone – adults, families and workplaces – and are also here to help you to find the right support. For more information: One You Walsall | Mytime Active
01922 444 044 (Mon to Fri 9am to 6pm)
www.mytimeactive.co.uk/one-you-walsall
https://www.oneyouwalsall.com/
Healthy Start Vitamins and Food Vouchers for eligible families
If you’re pregnant or have children under the age of 4 you can get free vouchers or payments every 4 weeks to spend on:
- cow’s milk
- fresh, frozen or tinned fruit and vegetables
- infant formula milk
- fresh, dried, and tinned pulses
You can also get free Healthy Start vitamins.
Healthy Start Vitamins and Vitamin Supplementation
Eating a healthy, varied diet in pregnancy will help you get most of the vitamins and minerals you need. But when you’re pregnant, or there’s a chance you might get pregnant, it’s important to also take a folic acid supplement.
It’s recommended that you take 400 micrograms of folic acid every day – from before you’re pregnant until you’re 12 weeks pregnant
This is to reduce the risk of problems in the baby’s development in the early weeks of pregnancy.
It is also recommended that you take a daily vitamin D supplement.
Vitamins, minerals and supplements in pregnancy – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Healthy Start vitamins contain both folic acid and Vit D. It is possible to buy these even if you are not eligible to the free vitamins
Your midwife can direct you to the national site to claim your vitamins. Your local pharmacist will be able to provide and advice on vitamins required when planning a pregnancy
NHS Smokefree App
