Smoking and Pregnancy
The single most important thing you can do now, for you and your baby is give up smoking. Cigarettes restrict the essential oxygen supply to your baby so their tiny heart has to beat harder every time you smoke.
Let us help
Sheffield NHS Stop Smoking Service has a specialist service just for expectant mums and their families. We can help you quit, giving you and your baby a fresh start.
We have specially trained midwives who can offer you a 1-1 confidential, personalised service. We can arrange times to meet you where you like, whatever suits you best.
You can ask your midwife or GP to contact us, or you can call us through the Stop Smoking Service on 0800 068 4490. The person you speak to will make sure that you are referred to a midwife with specialist training, so that you can arrange the best time to meet.
We will continue to meet with you over the course of a few weeks, and give you advice and support to help you quit. Nicotine replacement therapy can also be used by pregnant women and we can organise this for you. We can give you tips to resist the cravings and monitor your carbon monoxide levels to show you the progress you are making.
Smoking during pregnancy harms both mother and baby, during pregnancy and after birth. The harmful effects are numerous and include:
- An increased risk of miscarriage and stillbirth
- Increased likelihood of delivering the baby prematurely before 34 weeks and at a much lower birth weight
- Harms associated with the exposure to second-hand smoke
Good reasons to stop smoking when you are pregnant and stay stopped:
- You reduce the risk of miscarriage or bleeding
- You reduce the risk of your baby experiencing breathing problems in it’s first six months
- You decrease the risk of cot death
- You improve your chances of a healthier pregnancy
- Your child will grow up in a smoke free home
- You will have a healthier child/children who are less likely to smoke
- The money you will save will be really useful
