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 this week reveal 18.1 per cent of county women smoke at the end of their pregnancies, compared to the English average of 14.1 per cent.

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 or help in quitting, the Phoenix Stop Smoking Service can be contacted by calling 01522 550681.