Mothers and
the Midwives who take care of them have got together in angry response to newly proposed smoking tests.
The new
proposals, due to come into effect later this year, will make it standard
practice for midwives to test the carbon monoxide levels of mothers to be by
giving them a breath test at their first antenatal appointment.
It is
believed that many women are too embarrassed to admit to their doctor or
midwife that they continue to smoke. The proposed breath tests are the idea of
the health watchdog NICE, who believe that up to 20% of women lie about their
smoking habits.
Mothers are
furious about the proposed changes and members of the website 'Mumsnet' are
stating that the plans are 'utter meddlesome nonsense' and 'intrusive
nannying'.
In the
words of one Mumsnet member the plans are a ‘Really terrible idea. Women are
not just baby incubators once they’re pregnant.’ And midwives are in agreement
because they feel that such tests could undermine the trust between them and
the mothers in their care, with Louise Siverton, director of midwifery at the
Royal College of Midwives, calling the plans 'draconian'.
Even the
director of the smokers' lobby group, Simon Clark, has spoken up against the
plans, stating that "This seems incredibly invasive."
More on this story at The Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2323252/Fury-smoking-breath-test-mothers-revealed-light-pregnancy.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
