ALMOST one in five pregnant women in Lincolnshire regularly smoke until they give birth, according to new NHS statistics.

Latest statistics released by the Department Of Health have revealed that 18.1 per cent of county women smoke at the end of their pregnancies, compared to the English average of 14.1 per cent.

And the Phoenix Stop Smoking Service in Gainsborough Market Place is dedicated to helping people of all ages to quit.

Smoking during pregnancy is widely accepted to cause serious problems for both mother and baby, including labour complications and low birth weight for their babies.

Cigarettes contain more than 4,000 chemicals and fill the blood with carbon monoxide, therefore reducing the baby's oxygen supply.

This affects the baby's growth and can lead to other complications during birth. The baby can also develop smaller airways, causing breathing problems, such as asthma. The risk of a stillbirth or miscarriage is also increased.

For more information call the Phoenix Stop Smoking Service on 01522 550681.