A MIDDLEWICH mum has shared how NHS support helped her quit smoking.
Mia Rogerson gave up smoking during her first pregnancy in 2024 after being referred to her local NHS stop smoking service.
She has been smoke-free ever since and is now 26 weeks pregnant with her second child.
The 25-year-old said: "They explained how every cigarette restricts the blood flow through the umbilical cord to your baby.
"Seeing that really put everything into perspective for me.
"After that, I knew I didn't want to smoke again."
Having smoked around 15 cigarettes a day for five to six years, Mia had made several unsuccessful attempts to quit in the past.
The NHS service helped her understand the risks to her baby and supported her with practical tools to manage cravings, including a nicotine inhalator.
Mia said: "Quitting wasn’t easy, but it was the best thing I’ve ever done.
"I feel healthier, I’ve saved money, and I know I’m giving my children the best possible start.
"If you’re pregnant and worried about stopping, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
"The support is there, and it really does make a difference."
Smoking during pregnancy continues to decline across Cheshire and Merseyside.
New NHS data shows that smoking at the time of delivery has fallen to 4.8 per cent in 2025/26, down from 6.5 per cent the previous year.
This is slightly above the national average of 4.2 per cent, but the gap is narrowing.
Public health officials attribute the improvement to the specialist stop smoking support now available in every NHS maternity service across the region.
Mia’s story echoes a wider trend, with more than 8,500 people successfully quitting smoking in 2025/26 - an increase of more than 1,000 compared to the previous year.
Ceriann Tunnah, programme director for population health at NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said: "Supporting pregnant women to quit smoking is one of the best things we can do to support them to have a healthy pregnancy and baby.
"Every maternity service across Cheshire and Merseyside has a free treating tobacco dependency service providing tailored help to give women the best chance of staying smokefree during pregnancy and beyond."
In 2023, 9.5 per cent of pregnant women in Cheshire and Merseyside smoked.
This figure has now dropped to 4.3 per cent at the start of 2026 - the lowest it has ever been.
Ms Tunnah said: "For anyone who has recently discovered they are pregnant and is struggling to quit, we’d encourage them to speak to their midwifery team about where they can get support or visit www.smokingendshere.com for help, advice and to hear from other pregnant women who have successfully quit."
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