The first women to quit smoking in pregnancy thanks to support from a local specialist team have welcomed their babies into the world.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust set up the Phoenix Team, a maternity tobacco dependence treatment service, at the end of last year to help support mothers and birthing parents to give up smoking during pregnancy.

Liene Stepkane, of Mansfield, was referred to the Phoenix Team by her midwife during pregnancy.

She successfully quit smoking ahead of the arrival of her daughter, Christina Irene, who was born at King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton.

Liene, who started smoking six years ago and smoked 10 to 15 cigarettes a day, said: “I didn’t think I was capable of giving up, but with a good team around me it was much easier than I thought it would be.

“I used patches for a couple of weeks and didn’t feel like I needed to smoke at all when I put them on.

“As well as being good for my baby, I feel generally healthier since I’ve stopped smoking. I’ve been going for lots of walks and I don’t get out of breath pushing the pushchair uphill.

“My skin is better, everything just feels better. I’m really happy and proud of myself.

“My advice to anyone who is offered support is to just have a chat. My advisor, Lisa, was friendly, helpful and non-judgemental. We didn’t just talk about smoking but about life in general — and all the support is free, even the Nicotine Replacement Therapy.”

The trust’s tobacco dependence treatment service, which launched in December 2021, is one of three Early Implementer Sites for the NHS Long Term Plan maternity model.

In England, the rate of pregnant women and people smoking at the time of birth is 9.1%. At the trust it’s 16.23%.

Quitting smoking while pregnant reduces the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, low birth weight, heart defects. and sudden infant death syndrome.

The average cost to the NHS of providing care during pregnancy and birth to a person who smokes is double that of a non-smoker due to the interventions required.

Claire Allison, tobacco dependence maternity lead at SFH, said: “Smoking can cause serious health problems for both mother and baby. Protecting the baby from tobacco smoke is one of the best things to give the child a healthy start in life.

“It can be difficult to stop smoking, but it’s never too late to quit. We recognise that smoking in pregnancy is the result of addiction to nicotine, which requires treatment. Our support is tailored to each individual and is free.”