Going smokefree for you and baby

Pregnancy is a great time to make positive changes for you and your baby. If you are not smokefree we have lots of support to help you quit. If you don’t feel ready to quit, any reduction will benefit you and your baby.

When you smoke during pregnancy, your baby is exposed to dangerous chemicals like nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar. These chemicals can lessen the amount of oxygen that your baby gets. Oxygen is very important for helping your baby’s health and growth. Baby will also be at higher risk of being born early, being born underweight, needing care in Special Care Baby unit, breathing problems and Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) or cot death.

Now is a very good time to give up and your Lead Maternity Carer LMC/Midwife will provide information on ways to manage your addiction and become smokefree. The use of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) provides a safe alternative to manage your cravings compared to tobacco smoke with its 4000+ poisonous chemicals. Whenever you visit your midwife, your GP and our maternity facilities you can expect to be asked about being smokefree and offered support to quit.