Congratulations, you’re pregnant. There’s no better time to quit smoking than right now. Stopping smoking increases the chances of a healthy and happy pregnancy. There is no safe level of smoking. You and your baby deserve a healthy start – one puff isn’t worth the risk.
Smoking during pregnancy
- Allows thousands of poisonous chemicals and harmful gases such as carbon monoxide to pass through the placenta direct to the baby.
- Increases the risks of miscarriage, pre-term delivery or still birth.
- Smoking during pregnancy or after birth increases the chances of cot death also known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Benefits of stopping smoking in pregnancy
Stopping smoking early in pregnancy, and no later than 15 weeks, can lower the risk of premature birth and low birth weight to the same level as someone who does not smoke.
Stopping smoking will help both you and your baby immediately. Harmful gases, such as carbon monoxide and other damaging chemicals will clear from your body. When you stop smoking:
- you will reduce the risk of complications in pregnancy and birth.
- you are more likely to have a healthier pregnancy and a healthier baby.
- you will reduce the risk of stillbirth.
- your baby is less likely to be born too early and have breathing, feeding and health problems that often go with being premature.
- your baby is less likely to be born with a low birth weight. Babies of smokers are, on average, lighter than other babies which can cause problems during and after labour. For example, they are more likely to have problems keeping warm and are more likely to get infections.
- you will reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) also known as “cot death”.
- You will save money that can be put towards the cost of your baby’s arrival and continued costs.
Vaping during pregnancy
Vapes can be harmful to health. From studies of non-pregnant people, they appear to be less harmful to lung health than smoking tobacco but may have similar risks to other conditions e.g. high blood pressure. We don’t know how vapes could affect health in pregnancy or the health of developing babies.
Current guidelines highlight the absence of definitive evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of vaping, including nicotine-containing e‑cigarettes, for smoking cessation during pregnancy. Although some studies suggest vaping may be less harmful than smoking and may help some women to quit, it is not specifically recommended for use in pregnancy.
Smoking tobacco and vaping at the same time is more harmful than smoking or vaping alone.
The recommendation is to stop smoking and/or vaping as early as possible during pregnancy.
If you choose to continue to vape during pregnancy, make sure that you are using a regulated product from a reputable retailer.
Compensatory smoking
Compensatory smoking is when a person unconsciously changes how they smoke – such as taking bigger puffs, inhaling more deeply, or smoking more cigarettes – to make up for getting less nicotine than their body is used to.
It often happens when someone switches to cigarettes marketed as “light” or “low‑nicotine”, or when they try to cut down on the number of cigarettes they smoke.
People who smoke regularly tend to maintain a stable level of nicotine in their body. When nicotine levels drop, withdrawal symptoms can appear, so the body pushes the person to adjust their smoking behaviour to keep nicotine levels higher.
Video credit: NHS Highland
Support when pregnant
All pregnant women are routinely offered a breath test to measure carbon monoxide (CO) – a harmful gas linked to smoking, second-hand smoke, vehicle exhaust fumes or faulty gas appliances.
If you are a smoker and/or vaper please accept the offer of free advice, support and Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) from your local Quit Your Way Service. NRT products such as patches, gum, lozenges, mouth spray and inhalator are licensed for use in pregnancy and are safer than continuing to smoke and/or vape.
Your partner and other family members can receive the same free support and NRT to protect you and your baby from the effects of second-hand smoke.
Speak to your maternity team as soon as possible about a referral to your local Quit Your Way Service or you can call our Free Helpline 0800 783 9132 and refer yourself as soon as you find out you are pregnant.
Staying Stopped After Your Baby’s Birth
Becoming a parent is such a powerful moment, and it makes complete sense that you’d want to stay smoke‑free after your baby is born. A lot of people quit during pregnancy, but staying stopped afterward can feel like a whole new challenge especially when routines shift, sleep gets messy and stress levels spike. You’re not alone in that however it’s absolutely possible to stay on track.
Staying smoke free will result in many health benefits for you and your baby and save extra money to spend on them too. Children of parents who smoke are more likely to become smokers so setting a smoke‑free example matters.
Second-hand smoke
Second-hand smoke can affect you and your baby before and after their birth. Exposure to second-hand smoke has risks just as smoking does. More than 80% of second-hand smoke is invisible and does not smell. For more information on second-hand smoke visit Dangers of second-hand smoke | NHS inform
Get in touch
If you would like support to help you stop smoking/vaping or to talk to one of our Quit Your Way team, please contact us using the self-referral form below.
You can also contact us by email or telephone or follow us on Facebook.
Freephone: 0800 783 9132
Email: QYWAyrshire@aapct.scot.nhs.uk