Stopping smoking during pregnancy is proven to have the biggest positive impact on your baby’s health.
We at Smokefree Norfolk recognise that stopping smoking during pregnancy can be extremely challenging, but with the right support and treatment, we can help you achieve your goal.
Medications licensed in pregnancy
There are a range of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) options that are safe and licensed to use in pregnancy.
NRT contains only nicotine and none of the damaging chemicals found in cigarettes, so it is a much better option than continuing to smoke. It helps you by giving you the nicotine you would have had from a cigarette (NHS website).
Your Stop Smoking Advisor can talk you through these and arrange for you to have these on a NHS prescription.
Stop smoking tablets such as Champix and Zyban are not licensed in pregnancy.
E-cigarettes and vaping
Many people find e-cigarettes helpful for stopping smoking. While they are not risk-free, e-cigarettes are significantly less harmful to health than smoking. The liquid and vapour contain some potentially harmful chemicals also found in cigarette smoke, but at much lower levels.
Little research has been conducted into the safety of e-cigarettes in pregnancy, but we know that e-cigarettes do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, which is the most harmful part of smoking for developing babies.
The Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group, which includes the Royal College of Midwives and leading UK baby charities, provides the following advice:
If you are pregnant, licensed nicotine replacement therapy products such as patches and gum are the recommended option to help you stop smoking. However, if you find using an e-cigarette helpful for quitting and staying smokefree, it is much safer for you and your baby than continuing to smoke.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) monitoring
Your Midwife should ask you to carry out a Carbon Monoxide (CO) test at every appointment during your pregnancy. CO is an extremely poisonous gas which is produced when tobacco products are burnt.
CO is especially dangerous when inhaled during pregnancy, as it will deprive your baby of Oxygen and slow growth and development. Exposure to CO can also come from other external sources such as faulty boilers, car exhausts and open fires.
Benefits of stopping smoking during pregnancy
Your baby is less likely to be born with a low birth weight. Babies of smokers are, on average, 200g (about 8oz) 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 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
You will reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as "cot death"
Your baby is less likely to be born too early and have to face the breathing, feeding and health problems that often go with being premature