Responding to the Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group report ‘Review of the Challenge 2018’ published today, Dr Max Davie, Officer for Health Promotion for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), said:
“Smoking during pregnancy can significantly harm a baby and with over 4,000 toxic chemicals going straight into their fragile body with each cigarette smoked, it’s hardly surprising the risks are so serious – stillbirth, cot death, problems breathing and feeding and being more prone to infection.
"Government’s smoking in pregnancy reduction target might seem ambitious but with concerted effort, it can be achieved and as a result hundreds of babies will go on to survive and thrive. As children’s doctors, we fully support the recommendations outlined in today’s report and urge Government to act quickly, particularly with support aimed at those families considered most at risk.”