WOMEN who smoke while pregnant are mostly young and white, according to a stop smoking specialist.

Eva Gates, who works with mothers trying to kick the habit at West Middlesex Hospital in Twickenham Road, Isleworth, said most of the women she sees in Hounslow using cigarettes through pregnancy are in their early to mid-twenties and white.

It has also been found the majority of expectant mums who smoke in the borough are Feltham, Bedfont and Hanworth residents.

Ms Gates said: "Pregnant women who come to us are a priority and the midwives here are all trained to deal with it properly, so we can give them a lot of support.

"It can be very difficult as some mums don't like to come to the clinics, they worry about the stigma or being judged, though obviously we wouldn't. Sometimes they don't want to mix with other clients and some stop on their own."

Over the last seven years the proportion of smoking expectant mothers in Hounslow primary care trust has dropped from 15 per cent to 5.4 per cent (so far for this financial year).

According to the latest figures 180 women who gave birth from April 2011 smoked at birth.

Ms Gates said: "There can be many bad effects from this including premature birth, and later problems in life like learning difficulties and behavioural problems like ADHD. Smoking can also affect fertility.

“Hounslow mums seem to be doing better with giving up smoking during pregnancy compared with other parts of England. This could be due to rising awareness and use of the borough’s stop smoking services, and the efforts of stop smoking teams.

"We can’t be complacent and must continue to encourage and support people to give up this deadly habit.”

Dr Catherine Heffernan, consultant in children's public health, NHS Hounslow and London Borough of Hounslow, said reducing the number of local women smoking during pregnancy is a key priority for the borough and NHS.

A specialist drop-in clinic moved from the hospital in Isleworth to Feltham to directly respond to local need.

Ms Heffernan added: "The majority of pregnant women who smoke in the borough have been found to be residents of Feltham, Bedfont and Hanworth. Now these women can get the support they need closer to home."

The maternity drop-in stop smoking service is open every Tuesday from 4pm to 4.45pm at Feltham Centre for Health in Feltham High Street.

Call 0208 630 3255 for more details.