Nearly 20 per cent of women in one Black Country borough smoke during pregnancy, figures show.

Out of the 3,173 women having a baby, 560 of them – 17 per cent – were known to have been smoking before going into labour.

The figures were obtained in Sandwell between January and September this year. Women who light up while expecting are told that it can cause serious problems including complications during labour, an increased risk of miscarriage and even bring on a premature birth. 

According to figures released by Sandwell Primary Care Trust (PCT) today, there were 1,095 births between January and March this year, with 185 of the mothers having a smoking habit at the time they went into labour.

Then between April and June this year, there were 1,034 women giving birth, 186 of whom were smokers. 

Between July and September this year, there were 1,043 women giving birth, with 189 smoking beforehand.

Sandwell PCT runs health services in the area and says that it does all it can to encourage women to kick the habit while they are pregnant. 

Joanne Luxmore, tobacco control lead at Sandwell PCT, said: “Sandwell smoking services are more than happy to help women give up smoking before and during pregnancy. 

“We do have a smoking-in-pregnancy officer to help them.”

Help is also offered to those who may be thinking of starting a family and family members who wish to quit at the same time. 

The stop smoking and pregnancy team work together with stop-smoking trained hospital and community-based midwives and health visitors. 

Offers of help are based on motivation, along with the use of nicotine replacement therapy.

In 2006 in neighbouring Wolverhampton, there were about 3,100 babies born in the city, and 23 per cent of their mothers smoked throughout pregnancy.

* Anyone wanting information and advice on how to stop smoking can call 0800 073 1388.