Stop smoking

Quitting smoking is the most important thing you and your partner can do to give your baby the best start in life.

When you smoke or are exposed to cigarette smoke, over 4000 toxins including carbon monoxide and nicotine cross the placenta directly into your baby's blood stream. This reduces their oxygen and nourishment. By stopping smoking, these harmful gasses leave your body, and you will:

• Reduce the risk of complications in pregnancy and birth
• Reduce the risk to your baby of being born prematurely (before 37 weeks)
• Reduce the risk of your baby being born underweight
• Reduce the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth
• Reduce the risk of placental abruption (afterbirth coming away from the uterus causing bleeding)
• Reduce the risk of Sudden Infant death Syndrome (SIDS) - previously known as cot death
• Reduce the chance of your baby developing breathing, behavioural and mental health difficulties in childhood

For more information about stopping smoking in pregnancy click here: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/stop-smoking/

Useful Resources

• Cheshire Change Hub – quit smoking service https://cheshirechangehub.org/services/quit-smoking/
• NHS https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/quit-smoking/nhs-stop-smoking-services-help-you-quit/
• Better Health Smokefree App https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/#
• RCOG smoking and pregnancy leaflet: https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/patients/patient-leaflets/smoking-and-pregnancy/
• Smokefree Action e-cigarettes in pregnancy infographic: https://smokefreeaction.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ASH-ecig-infographic-A5_v6.pdf