Not really a question....

[Loosehead]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5405194.stm
please tell me this is untrue!

[jake-the-peg]

I would imagine that it's kind of true.

Most likely a common self-justification some use to justify not giving up when pregnant.

I'd be surprised if there was any firm evidence that a significant number started smoking when pregnant deliberately for this reason.

It all rather depends on how you present it doesn't it?

[admarlow]

comming to a council estate neay you....

[WaldoMcFroog]

I have to say I was speechless when I read that this morning. Yet more justification for proper sex education (both parental and school-led) from an early age, IMO.

[sp1814]

It's on the front page of the London Metro newspaper.

The story comes from Caroline Flint and is based on 'anecdotal evidence from health workers and young women'.

That's literally the only evidence in this story. And in the Metro story, it's claimed that 'thousands of pregnant teenagers are deliberately smoking'.

If it is</is> true, then they are indeed misguided. The only way to guarantee a painless labour is to be very, very, very, very drunk during the whole delivery process.

[admarlow]

I thought it only worked if you smoked crack?

[sp1814]

Most hospitals frown on the smoking of crack during delivery.

Something to do with health and safety.

[admarlow]

bloody nanny state, my mum swore by it, (or was it swore on it?)

[brachiopod]

I thought the words "government minister" and "claimed" would have given it away ??

No doubt it will beome as entrenched as the "teenage girls only get pregnant so they can get a Council house" myth.

[B00]

Boo renames Wardy Santa

[jno]

I heard that 30 years ago, but I never saw any evidence at the time, and it doesn't seem there's a whole lot now. Anecdotal evidence may mean I told someone who told someone else who told a health worker who told a politician.... but that doesn't make it true now or then. And even if one or two women really did do it, it still doesn't make it 'true' in any very useful sense.

[NH]

I think that 95% of young women are intelligent enough not to, or smoke anyway regardless of pregnancy. There's not really much of a story behind this anyway; I'm amazed the BBC even paid attention.

[indie_chic]

I cant really imagine its widespread.

I didnt smoke during either of my pregnancies and both weighed under 6 lbs, whereas, my aunt who did smoke all the way through and drink a bottle of wine every night, all her babies weighed around 8lbs.

5lbs of baby still made me think I was going to die.

[noxlumos]

I don't think this is terribly true of most girls, I would imagine the stress of being teenage, pregnant and not having much money, support or public approval would be more likely the reason that some of them smoke. there are bound to be odd truly thick people who might think that way but as for it being into the thousands, that's just not going to happen. I think it's anecdotal crap to be honest, but we do need more education and support for teenage mums so that they understand that childbirth can be relatively painless if relaxed and managed correctly.

[Loosehead]

Well thanks all, it seems it's probably overstated then.

[mimififi]

my daughter is 12 and when I fell pregnant with her I was 17 (we are very gillmore girls.)!

During the pregnancy i obviously met other teenage mothers younger and older than moi, and I did know two who while smoked also ate very little on purpose so as to have a tiny baby. They thought that if they ate too much they would have a giant baby and not be back in their jeans at 6 weeks and because they reckoned it made it more painful the bigger the baby. I remember thinking at the time, that i couldn't believe how stooopid they were (and that wasn't just because I was a snobby grammar school girl, they were actually insane ) I also remember thinking how I would cut off my right arm to make sure my baby was healthy and to hell with whatever i had to go through.

As it was, they went on to have regular sized babies, one of whom was 2 weeks late and had to have an induction, I on the other hand delivered and 5 pound baby 6 weeks early (which was blamed on my teen ness, although all my 5 children have been prem, and the earliest one was born at 32 weeks and I had her aged 28 - I guess I'm just young at heart) and I can tell you that a tiny baby doesn't hurt any less, unless the baby is the shape of a pip cleaner, you still have to dilate to 10 cm.

I just feel that it is more evidence of how kids appear to be becomming more and more stupid and less and less clever.....? Is this true, are our youngsters all insane nutcases? though something tells me that it is probably not only young people who apply ridiculous logic to their pregnancies.

despairing and frightening, the world is truly mad.

[bernardo]

My guess is that the story is based on an anecdotal report of one teenager.

[Xollob]

There must be some footage of Boris Johnson handing out ciggies to barely teenage mothers-to-be.
The question is: who is suppressing this and why?

[dyli795]

It just shows there's always a way 'round a slow news day.

2 out of 10. Pathetic.