Lambeth Council is planning on offering pregnant smokers free e-cigarettes to help wean them off tobacco, the council has announced.
The council currently offers specialist smoking cessation services for pregnant smokers which consist of counselling, behavioural support and the availability of Nicotine Replacement Therapy.
However, the local authority now plans to offer electronic cigarettes as a way to help people give up smoking tobacco.
A Lambeth Council spokesperson said: ‘Smoking during pregnancy is the leading risk factor for poor birth outcomes, including stillbirth, miscarriage and pre-term birth.
‘Smoking during pregnancy also increases the risk of children developing several respiratory conditions, attention and hyperactivity difficulties, learning difficulties, problems of the ear, nose and throat, obesity, and diabetes.’
The spokesperson added: ‘We recognise that while it is best for pregnant smokers to stop smoking without continuing to use nicotine, if this is difficult, and if they choose to use e-cigarettes it can help them become smoke free.’
