Smoking in pregnancy and after your baby is born
You're not alone
If you’re pregnant or have recently had a baby and you smoke, you’re not alone. Many people find it difficult to stop, especially during times of change, stress or uncertainty.
The most important thing to know is that support is available, and it’s never too late to make a positive change for you and your baby.
Why stopping is important
Every time you smoke, harmful chemicals pass into your bloodstream and reduce the oxygen available to your baby. This means your baby’s heart has to work harder and can affect how they grow and develop. Smoking during pregnancy is one of the biggest preventable risks to your baby’s health. The earlier you stop, the better, but stopping at any stage will still make a difference.
How smoking can affect your baby
Smoking during pregnancy and after birth can have serious effects on your baby’s health.
These include:
- Increased risk of miscarriage
- Premature birth
- Low birth weight
- Stillbirth
- Breathing problems
- Increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
After your baby is born, exposure to secondhand smoke can continue to increase the risk of SIDS and other health problems.
How smoking can affect you
Smoking doesn’t just affect your baby, it can also affect your own health, your pregnancy, and your fertility.
Smoking can make it harder to get pregnant in the first place, as it can affect fertility.
During pregnancy, it can increase the risk of complications and affect your overall wellbeing.
Stopping smoking can help improve your health, your energy levels, and your recovery after birth. It also helps create a healthier environment for your baby from the very beginning.
Myth busting
There are some common myths about smoking in pregnancy. Understanding the facts can help you make informed choices for you and your baby.
"A smaller baby means an easier labour"
Smoking can lead to low birth weight, but this is not a benefit. Babies born with a low birth weight are more likely to have health problems during and after birth.
"It’s too late to stop now"
It’s never too late to stop smoking. Stopping at any stage of pregnancy, or after your baby is born, will benefit both you and your baby.
"Cutting down is enough"
Cutting down is a positive step, but there is no safe level of smoking in pregnancy. The best way to protect your baby is to stop completely.
"Secondhand smoke doesn’t matter"
Breathing in other people’s smoke can still harm you and your baby. It increases the risk of complications during pregnancy and after birth, including SIDS.
"But isn’t vaping just as harmful for me and my baby?"
No. Vaping is not risk-free, but it is much less harmful than smoking because it does not produce the harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke.
If you are pregnant, the safest option is to stop smoking completely. If you find it difficult to quit, using a vape can be a helpful step towards becoming smoke-free, especially when combined with support from your healthcare team.
Your Midwife or Stop Smoking Advisor can help you decide what option is safest and most effective for you and your baby.
"How does smoking affect breastfeeding?"
Smoking can affect both the quality and the amount of your breast milk.
Nicotine and other chemicals can pass into your breast milk, and smoking can also reduce the amount of milk your body produces.
Stopping smoking can help support a healthier milk supply and reduce your baby’s exposure to harmful substances.
A fresh start for your new arrival
With the right support, you can stop smoking and create a healthier start for you and your baby.
You are not alone
There are different types of support available to help you stop smoking, and we can help you find what’s right for you.
This may include:
- One-to-one support from trained Stop Smoking Advisors
- Support from your Midwife or Health Visitor
- Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), such as patches, gum or lozenges
- Vapes (e-cigarettes), which are less harmful than smoking and may be recommended as part of a quit attempt if you are unable to stop using other methods
We will help you use these safely during pregnancy.
