13.05.13
A silver bullet?
The Royal College of Midwives has responded to the new NICE guidelines about testing pregnant women for smoking in the typical way.
Although the RCM did raise concern about coercing mothers into stopping smoking, and the risk of damaging relationships, the real solution to smoking during pregnancy is simply to increase the number of midwives, it says.
It is becoming an increasingly automatic answer to a variety of risks and dangers around pregnancy. More midwives would undoubtedly improve care during pregnancy, but is this really the best way to address a potentially sensitive issue of helping pregnant women to quit?
Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]