Smoking and Pregnancy

Smoking and Pregnancy

Research shows that your baby can be harmed by tobacco smoke.

Some effects of tobacco smoke may include:
• Problems when you are pregnant.
Smoking can increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or bleeding during your pregnancy.

• Problems when the baby is born.

If you smoke, it is twice as likely that your baby will be small at birth. Low birth weight babies can have health problems.

• Problems as the baby grows.

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or crib death, happens more often in homes of smokers. Also, babies who are around smokers have more flu, colds, ear infections and breathing problems such as asthma.

We all know quitting smoking is not easy!

Nicotine, the drug found in tobacco, is very addictive. Tobacco smoke contains at least 4,000 other chemicals besides nicotine, and all of these chemicals can be harmful to the health of you and your baby.

If you smoke, try to quit or cut down your smoking as soon as you find out you are pregnant. However, if you quit or cut down any time during your pregnancy, it will help you and your baby. Some women smokers say it is easier to quit or cut down when they were pregnant.

Here are some tips:
• Start slowly. Set a change date, then aim to quit or cut down on that day. Be realistic. Smokers with realistic goals have more success. And, don't give up if you don't reach your goals right away — keep trying.
• Find someone who will help you make changes. Make this person your change or quit “buddy.” The more support you can get from others, the easier it is to make changes.
• Call a counsellor, a community health nurse, or a doctor. They can help pregnant women quit or cut down on their smoking.

What about other people's smoke (second-hand smoke)?

Second-hand smoke can cause health problems for you and your baby, too. If your partner smokes, ask your partner to try to quit or cut down, or to smoke outside. Ask your partner (and anyone else) not to smoke around you. When people smoke around you, leave the room when they are smoking.

Women's Addictions - Research and Education (AWARE), Ontario.