The number of women who smoke during pregnancy is increasing, according to the NHS.

Reducing the number of mums smoking while pregnant to six per cent is the new NHS target compared to its goal of 11 per cent last year.

Smoking during pregnancy can lead to complications for the mother and child as it restricts the flow of oxygen to the unborn baby.

According to the Department of Health, smoking is more frequent among pregnant women from disadvantaged groups.

Here is the data breakdown for Bromley, Dartford, Greenwich, Lewisham and Bexley.

Bromley:

The number of pregnant mothers smoking in Bromley is increasing despite still being among the lowest in the UK.

There were 1,039 recorded pregnancies in the second quarter of 2017 with 6.5 per cent of the women smoking during pregnancy. This was up from 4.3 per cent in the same period in 2016.

Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley:

One in 10 women in these areas smoke during pregnancy. In the second quarter of 2017 there were 795 pregnancies with 84 mums reported to have smoked, or 10.6 per cent. This is compared to 9.3 per cent last year.

Greenwich:

The number of mothers smoking during pregnancy in Greenwich is well above the national average.

There was 88 mothers who smoked while pregnant. This represented 7.8 per cent of the 1,145 pregnancies.

Lewisham:

In Lewisham only 5.1 per cent of women smoked while pregnant in the second quarter of 2017. This was 57 mothers from 1,217 pregnancies.

Bexley:

Out of 776 pregnancies in the second quarter of 2017, 62 mothers, or 8.2 per cent, smoked while pregnant. This is down from 8.7 per cent during the same time last year.