Stopping smoking and remaining smoke free is one of the best things you can do foe your baby. Quitting is most successful when you have the right advice and support. We know that smoking is harmful to babies and treatment for tobacco dependency is now a standard part of your maternity care. Quitting at any time in pregnancy or the postnatal period is a benefit to both you and your little one however the sooner you quit, the greater the benefits.
Even if you don’t smoke yourself, it is important to understand the effects that ‘second hand smoking’ (when people around you smoke) has on both your health and that of your unborn baby.
You will be asked by your community midwife about your smoking status at your booking appointment and you will be offered Carbon Monoxide (CO) testing at this and subsequent appointments. We will then pass on your details to our specialist maternity stop smoking service who will contact you about your options.
Stopping smoking will help both you and your baby immediately. Harmful gases, such as carbon monoxide, and other damaging chemicals will clear from your body. When you stop smoking:
- You will reduce the risk of complications in pregnancy and birth,
- You are more likely to have a healthier pregnancy and a healthier baby,
- You will reduce the risk of stillbirth,
- Your baby is less likely to be born too early and have breathing, feeding and health problems that often go with being premature,
- You will reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as 'cot death'.
Stopping smoking now will also help your baby later in life. Children whose parents smoke are more likely to suffer from asthma and other serious illnesses that may need hospital treatment.
The sooner you stop smoking, the better. But even if you stop in the last few weeks of your pregnancy this will benefit you and your baby.
Seeing a specialist adviser will increase your chance of quitting, you can see them alone or with a friend/family member. Your adviser will give you advice about stop smoking medication that may help you quit, such as Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), supporting you throughout your quit journey.
