A MUM-TO-BE who “smoked in secret” has bumped the habit — thanks to a service in Bolton.

Gabriella Wilkinson, aged 21, had previously been un- successful in stubbing out her habit, but she managed to quit after a midwife referred her to Bump The Habit, a relaunched service aimed at reducing the number of expectant mothers smoking.

To show her appreciation for the support she received Miss Wilkinson invited Tracey Holliday, a stop-smoking adviser, to attend her 29-week scan.

She is expecting a son in May.

Miss Wilkinson, from Bolton, said: “My first scan really brought it home. I had one early and as soon as I saw my baby there on the screen, I knew I had to give up.

“It was the motivation of having a human being inside me that finally spurred me on, and the support I received through the regular visits from Bump The Habit helped keep me going.”

The relaunch of the Bolton NHS Foundation Trust service follows shocking Public Health Intelligence Report on Smoking in Pregnancy figures from October, 2010, which revealed 18.7 per cent of mums were still smoking when their child was born — more than five per cent above the national average.

The report showed 37 per cent of mothers in Breightmet North still smoked when their baby was born.

Miss Wilkinson had been smoking in secret as her partner, Lee Dillon, a non-smoker, wanted her to stop.

Ms Holliday attended Miss Wilkinson’s scan at the Royal Bolton Hospital’s maternity unit.

The former 20-a-day smoker said: “There is a little worry at the back of my mind about what might happen once he is born. But I have already spoken to Tracey about it and she is going to come and see me over those first few weeks and will be able to help me if I’m struggling.”

Ms Holliday said: “Gabriella would be the first to say that she never thought she would manage to quit smoking. But once she got her head around it all she managed very well.”

To contact the service call 01204 462365 or email info@bumpthehabit.org. Read Miss Wilkinson’s blogs at bumpthehabit.org