A YOUNG mother from Toothill who gave up smoking for the sake of her unborn child is urging pregnant women to quit the habit.

Kyrie Dixon, 26, was smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day when she became pregnant with her fourth child James a year ago.

While she had temporarily quit during her earlier pregnancies, prompting from her partner was the incentive she needed to finally stop for good.

With help from the Stop Smoking Service, Kyrie overcame her addiction, which started when she was nine.

“It really is the best thing I’ve ever done,” said Kyrie. “I knew I didn’t want to harm my baby, so it was quite simple – I had to stop.”

Kyrie, whose other children are Shaun, three, Morgan, six, and Ryan, seven, found it easier to give up during her previous pregnancies but returned to the habit after each birth.

In the last quarter of 2013/14, 103 expectant mothers in the UK were found to be smoking at the time of delivery. This represented 14.6 per cent of all pregnant women about to give birth at the time.

For free support to quit, call 0800 3892229 or 01793 465513, text 07881 281797 or email besmokefree@seqol.org