Smoking Cessation during Pregnancy

If you smoke, heavily or occasionally, your doctor or midwife will talk to you about the importance of stopping during pregnancy. With all the excitement, stress, worry and upheaval that occur during this important time in your life, it might seem like one of the most difficult time to give up the habit, but it is also one of the best, and most rewarding times to quit.

Smoking cessation During PregnancyWhy Stop Smoking during Pregnancy?

Experts are agreed that smoking is dangerous for your baby. Everything that you put in your body, goes into your baby’s body. Including all the toxins and carcinogenic chemicals found in cigarettes, and there can be over 4000 of these in every cigarette!

Research has shown that Mothers who smoke are more likely to have a stillborn baby. This is a shocking and heart-breaking fact, but also a very sobering one.

Babies born to smokers are more likely to be premature, which can cause a range of problems for baby and Mother alike including breathing problems, problems feeding, and Mothers with premature babies are more likely to suffer from Post Natal Depression.

Babies born to Mothers who smoke during pregnancy are typically smaller, which can mean they have more difficulty keeping warm or fighting infection.

Studies have shown that the risk of cot death is higher in babies born to smoking Mothers.

Passive smoking (when you are breathing in the smoke of another person) is also very dangerous during pregnancy so in order to protect yourself and your baby, you should not expose yourself to second hand smoke either. Try to avoid smoky environments and don?t feel uncomfortable asking people to stop smoking around you when possible. Even smoke across a room can enter your body.

Babies and Smoking

Babies who are exposed to smoke are more likely to suffer from asthma, allergies and breathing problems. They may be more likely to catch infections and their risk of cot death is higher. A baby suffers from passive smoking even when the smoker is in a different room or near a window ? even the chemicals and dangerous substances on the clothing or skin of a smoker can affect a baby. It is essential that you never share a bed with your baby if you are a smoker, even if you never smoke in bed.

Seeking Professional Help

Speak to your doctor, midwife or a dedicated smoking cessation service ? they will be more than happy to help you to find ways of making quitting easier. Talk thought your worries, fears and concerns and take the help offered ? it will be worth it to give your baby the best start in life.

Willpower

No-one can quit smoking without a certain amount of willpower. During pregnancy, your hormones will be all over the place and it can feel like quitting smoking is just another strain. However, you might also find that while in the past quitting smoking might have been very hard, or almost impossible, now that you have a baby to think about, it may be easier. After all, you are doing what is best for your child.