Breathe 4 Life Project Pilots in Aberdeenshire

Pregnancy is a particularly good time to give up smoking as it helps to reduce the health risks to both mother and baby.

At the end of last year, NHS Grampian launched a smoking in pregnancy project called Breathe 4 Life aimed specifically at women who are pregnant who want help to stop or reduce their smoking.

Breathe 4 Life is a free service available in Banff, Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Huntly, Inverurie and Kemnay.  The service involves specialist-trained midwives and health visitors to provide friendly advice and ongoing support to pregnant women to help stop or reduce their smoking throughout all stages of pregnancy, and after the baby is born.

Project co-ordinator, Susan Forbes said:

"We offer one-to-one or group support to address a wide range of issues, for example, the difficulties of stopping smoking, coping with stress and access to other services.  The benefits of this support would be even broader than just the immense benefit from giving up smoking, as self-esteem and coping strategies will be enhanced to enable more confident parenting.

Our service also recognises the importance of support from partners, family and friends to not only increase the chances of success but to ensure a smoke free home, and information on a range of smoking advice services will be available for those who want to address their own smoking."

At present all midwives and health visitors throughout Aberdeenshire offer support to help pregnant women to give up or reduce smoking, and if successful Breathe 4 Life, which addresses a wider range of issues, may be extended across the whole of Aberdeenshire in the future.

NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS
There is an image available for download in the form of a high-res jpeg if needed.


Lesley Middleton, Senior Corporate Communications Officer, 01224 54400

NHS Grampian
Corporate Communications Department
Ashgrove House
Foresterhill
Aberdeen AB25 2ZA
01224 554400

Press Release:
Breathe 4 Life Project Pilots in Aberdeenshire (Word document)