Reasons to stop smoking

Stopping smoking is good for you and your baby. Stopping before or during early pregnancy is best, but it is good for you and your baby to stop at any point. Stopping smoking is good for your partner’s health too.

Your midwife or GP can put you in touch with stop smoking services, some specifically for pregnant women, who will support you and help you to stop. Help and information about services is also available from Smokeline on 0800 84 84 84 or visit www.canstopsmoking.com

Why stop?

Most people are aware that smoking during pregnancy is harmful to both mum and baby. You may not be aware of the specific risks.

Research has shown that growth is affected in babies whose mothers smoke during their pregnancy. They may be born too early and weigh less than normal. A baby with low birth weight may pick up infections more easily, can have difficulty breathing during and after birth and may have health and wellbeing problems that last through childhood and beyond.

There is strong evidence that if you, or someone in your household, smokes it will affect your pregnancy and your baby’s health. So there has never been a better time to stop. If you stop smoking, you will reduce risks to your pregnancy such as miscarriage or stillbirth, and risks to your baby such as cot death, and chronic conditions including asthma.

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous chemical that is present in your body because of smoking. Some areas now offer carbon monoxide testing to all pregnant women to show them the risks and help support their attempts to quit.

Passive smoking

Passive smoking can affect babies still in the womb. If you breathe second-hand smoke, the chemicals in the smoke can make their way to your unborn baby.

Babies who live with people who smoke (parents, brothers, sisters or family friends) are likely to be harmed by breathing in second-hand smoke. Smoking regularly near a baby is one of the causes of cot death (see Reducing the risk of cot death)Other carers should not smoke near your baby. Smoke travels quickly – if you live with smokers who cannot stop, or there are smokers in the house, try to get them to smoke outside.