One in six pregnant Rotherham women still smoking

The figure is much higher than the national average — about one in ten — and has been made a top priority by borough health bosses.

Rotherham public health director Terri Roche (pictured) said: “It seems hard to believe now, when everybody knows smoking is harmful for them. 

“But some people still suggest that it’s going to be an easier birth because you’re going to have a smaller baby.

“Let me assure you the head is still usually the same size, unless you have a premature baby.”

The figure of pregnant smokers is 17 per cent in Rotherham and has fallen just four per cent in seven years.

Mrs Roche added: “It’s an area that we need to do more work on. Nationally, it’s 10.7 per cent so you can see quite a staggering difference.

“If I was going to do just one thing in my career here, I would like to reduce the prevalence of smoking and smoking in pregnancy.

“We don’t just work with the pregnant mother. We try to work with the whole family.

“Sometimes, if other members of the family quit at the same time, they are more likely to quit for good.”

Overall, 18 per cent of Rotherham adults smoke. Four out of five children who pick up the habit are from a home where a parent smokes.