Stopping smoking is one of the most important things that you can do during pregnancy to protect your baby's health and development and improve your own health and wellbeing.
What happens to my baby when I smoke?
Every cigarette you smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, so smoking when you are pregnant harms your unborn baby. Cigarettes can restrict the essential oxygen supply to your baby. As a result, their heart must beat harder every time you smoke.
Find information and advice on health conditions, symptoms, healthy living, medicines and how to get help on the NHS website.
What are the risks from smoking in pregnancy?
Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 poisonous chemicals including carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide significantly reduces the amount of oxygen and nutrients that pass across the placenta to the baby each time a cigarette is smoked. This affects the growth and development of the baby and increases the risk of:
Placental abruption (a life-threatening condition where the placenta detaches prematurely before the baby's birth)
Fetal distress during labour and birth
Low birthweight
Premature birth
Neonatal death (risk increased by 20%)
Find out more about treating tobacco dependency for pregnant people in this short video
Babies who are small at birth due to smoking are much weaker and are poorly developed. They are more likely to have serious health problems in childhood such as:
Asthma, wheeze and recurrent chest infections
Ear infections, glue ear and hearing loss
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Diabetes
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) - 25% more likely
Babies born to mothers who smoke are 27 times more likely to die before their first birthday.
There are no safe levels of smoking
Even 1 cigarette can greatly restrict the flow of oxygen to your baby for up to 15 minutes. There is evidence that cutting down the number of cigarettes that you smoke is just as harmful to you and your baby. Stopping smoking will help you and your baby immediately. The earlier you stop smoking the healthier you and your baby will be. But it is never too late to stop.
I am a smoker, what should I do?
Your midwife will carry out carbon monoxide monitoring at your booking appointment and every other antenatal appointment.
If you are a smoker your care with be shared by your midwife and a hospital doctor. Your baby's growth will be monitored more closely throughout pregnancy.
If you smoke, or have a high carbon monoxide reading, your midwife will refer you to our team of specialist maternity support workers who are trained tobacco dependency advisers. Their role is to support you to achieve a smokefree pregnancy by providing you with personalised care, support and guidance as well as access to treatment.
We know everyone is different and our advisors have the knowledge and experience to help find the best way forward for you. And it doesn't end with just one session. We will be there for you with regular appointments throughout your pregnancy to help, encourage and advise. We can help you to quit smoking at any point in your pregnancy, but the earlier you stop, the lower the risk of complications to your baby.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Below you'll find some questions - and answers - our Maternity team often get asked about.
This is a quick and simple breath test completed by blowing into a tube. The results are instant to measure your level of exposure to carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas which can damage the placenta and deprive the baby of oxygen which they need for growth and development.
During your midwife appointments, you'll be asked to do a CO test to check if the levels of carbon monoxide are high, and if so, your midwife can help you reduce your exposure to Carbon Monoxide.
If your partner or anyone else who lives with you smokes, their smoke can affect you and your baby before and after their birth. You may also find it more difficult to stop if someone around you smokes.
Secondhand smoke can also reduce your baby's birthweight and increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as "cot death". Babies whose parents smoke are more likely to be admitted to hospital for bronchitis and pneumonia during their first year.
Midwives will ask about your partner's and other household members smoking and offer them support to stop. Couples who quit together have more chance of success, access to support is easily accessed by visiting the Smoke Free County Durham website.
Vapes are battery powered devices that deliver nicotine through inhaled vapour.
Vapes are fairly new and there are still some things we do not know. Current evidence on the use of vapes indicates they are much less risky than smoking tobacco.
If using a vape helps you to stop smoking it is much safer for you and your baby than continuing to smoke tobacco. For more information about stopping smoking during pregnancy and the use of vapes visit the NHS website.
Nicotine is a relatively harmless substance but is highly addictive. NRT products provide clean nicotine to help with cigarette cravings and symptoms of withdrawal.
NRT is safe and effective in helping people to quit smoking.
A range of NRT options are available which are safe for use during pregnancy which can help with any cravings you may experience such as:
Patches
Chewing Gum
Lozenges
Inhalator
Nasal and mouth sprays
Yes, NRT is much safer than continuing to smoke as it does not contain the thousands of toxic chemicals and tar that cigarettes do.
Although you can use NRT when you are pregnant, before using any product we suggest you speak to your midwife, GP, a pharmacist or a treating tobacco dependency adviser who can provide you with personalised support and treatment.
