asked the Minister for Health the measures, if any, being taken to warn women of the dangers of smoking during pregnancy.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Smoking During Pregnancy.
11.
Pregnant women are as a matter of course informed of the dangers of smoking during pregnancy by their general practitioners and gynaecologists. For the last two years, the Health Education Bureau have made available to the public an information pack on smoking and health which includes warnings on smoking during pregnancy. Such information has also been contained in the current anti-smoking campaign, as well as in other press releases and publicity material produced by the bureau.
In addition, the bureau have commissioned a short television film which will draw further attention to the dangers which parents' smoking can cause to unborn children and those in the first year of life.
I have personally drawn attention, in a number of speeches, to the dangers involved in smoking during pregnancy and I am glad to have this opportunity of emphasising once again the importance I attach to women not smoking at that time.
Would the Minister consider elaborating on it in regard to the specific dangers to women? To generalise on it does not give them sufficient knowledge nor indeed warn them off.
Perhaps the Deputy, for the record and perhaps publicity purposes, would elaborate what he has in mind, the particular dangers of which he speaks?
First, the size of the baby is much smaller and it is a great danger to the baby. If we were more specific in the warnings it might have more impact on mothers who are smoking.
I am sure the Deputy is also aware of the fact that even after birth where a mother smokes there is a great danger that the child will not grow to full maturity——
Sorry, with due respect, the baby is already born and if the mother smokes afterwards, that is her own concern. It is only when she is breast feeding that it happens. Other than that, the baby is not affected.
A mother smoking who has charge of a child can affect it.
I think that is stretching science a little too far.
No.
The specific effect on the unborn baby can be great and serious and if this were elaborated on it would have greater impact. Saying that smoking is dangerous in pregnancy is not making sufficient impact.