Number of pregnant smokers hits record low

The amount of people smoking while pregnant has reached a record low, according to NHS data.

New statistics show 4.7% of women across Hull, East Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire were smoking at the time of delivery in 2025/2026, down from 8.3% the previous year.

The drop means 541 fewer women were smoking when they gave birth.

Scott Crosby, associate director for the Humber and North Yorkshire centre for excellence in tobacco control, said: "It is positive to see the great progress that is being made to tackle smoking in pregnancy."

In 2025/2026, 4.3% of pregnant women in England were smokers at the time of delivery, compared to 10.5% in 2016.

According to data, it is the lowest rate of smoking during pregnancy recorded in Humber and North Yorkshire.

The drop follows the introduction of a national model in 2022 that saw midwifery staff trained to provide support and access to medications to help pregnant women stop smoking.

Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of stillbirth, miscarriage and sudden infant death, according to the NHS.

Children born to parents who smoke are also more likely to experience respiratory illness, learning difficulties and diabetes.

Martyn Willmore, head of preventable risk factors at the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, said: "I've never seen anybody start smoking when they become pregnant. What happens is that people become addicted to smoking.

"Predominantly, most people will start well before they're in their 20s. It makes it tricky to stop, even when you've got the very best reason of all to quit, which is becoming pregnant."

Gina Weber, 36, from Hull, quit smoking after finding out she was pregnant with her first child.

"When I discovered I was pregnant, I knew I had to stop smoking. I'd already been trying to cut down and was sometimes using a vape instead of cigarettes, but quitting completely was still really hard.

"My local stop smoking service got in touch and asked if I'd like some support. I decided to give it a try, and I'm so glad I did.

"I've finally quit for good. I'm over the moon that I've given my baby the best possible start in life."

However, Crosby said there were still 600 mums-to-be across Yorkshire and the Humber who smoke during pregnancy.

He said: "We must do more to ensure that expert support to quit smoking is available to all pregnant women and that measures are introduced to dissuade more young people from becoming addicted to tobacco."

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