Loading...
Following a new study published in the Medical Journal of Australia today about the safety of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for pregnant smokers, Professor Sanchia Aranda, CEO, Cancer Council Australia is reminding women to quit smoking, particularly before falling pregnant and to seek the support they need to do so.
“We know there are serious negative health effects on the foetus if women smoke during pregnancy, like being born prematurely, a low birth weight and a doubled risk of stillbirth – so we need to continue to remind women of the importance of quitting before starting a family.
“The review of the latest research published today provides some reassurance that using nicotine replacement therapy during pregnancy is safe for those who need this additional support. This should be reassuring for both pregnant mothers who choose to use this method of quitting, as well as health practitioners recommending it to their patients.
“Most clinical guidelines recommend that nicotine replacement therapy be offered to women who have trouble quitting – but previous research has shown that the number of prescriptions given to women who continue to smoke is low. For women who continue to smoke during pregnancy, Nicotine Replacement Therapy should be considered, alongside counselling services such as the Quit Line.”
(Source: Cancer Council Australia)
