Smoking And Pregnancy

What are the dangers of smoking during pregnancy?

It's very important for smokers who are pregnant to actually consider whether they are going to stop. Not only are they actually damaging themselves, but they are also causing a great deal of damage to the unborn baby by smoking throughout the pregnancy. When a smoker is smoking, they're inhaling four thousand chemicals into their body. Therefore when you're pregnant your baby is also smoking as you are.

What effect will it have on my unborn baby?

The effects of smoking on an unborn baby are quite wide, and QUIT would urge any smoker who is pregnant to actually think about whether they want to stop smoking throught the pregnancy. There is a wide range of support available for them, including the NHS smoking and pregnancy helpline. It's a free service and it's open seven days a week. It is designed to actually talk to all mothers who are currently pregnant, or even thinking about becoming pregnant and to give them the help and support they actually need to have a healthy baby, by quitting smoking throughout the pregnancy.

My partner smokes, what effect will this have on my unborn baby?

When a woman is pregnant and a member of her family is actually smoking, the impact of passive smoke is not only just on her, but it's also impacting on the health of her unborn baby. It's really important to explain to the smoker the damage that is being caused by their smoking throughout the pregnancy and find a solution to this. Now the one solution could be that the partner actually stops smoking throughout the pregnancy. Another solution is that they agree that the partner will only smoke outside if they are unable to stop smoking throughout the pregnancy. But it's important to make sure that the pregnant woman is in a smoke free environment, not only for her health, but also the health for her baby.

Is it too late to stop, or is the damage already done?

It's never too late to stop smoking. If a woman is pregnant and she is smoking then it is important to make sure that she stops as soon as she can.

Can I use nicotine replacement therapy when pregnant?

It's always advisable if you are pregnant and you want to stop smoking, that you seek advice from your GP, your health care professional or the QUIT counselors. It's really important to make sure that any stop smoking treatments and support is done in conjunction with a health care professional throughout the pregnancy.

Is there specialist support for pregnant smokers?

QUIT would recommend than any smoker who is pregnant, and who wants to stop, phone the NHS smoking and pregnancy help line. Here they will get all the specialist support they need to help them stop smoking throughout their pregnancy