The effects of smoking for pregnancy

Smoking while you’re pregnant can cause complications and increase your risk of:

All of these can seem really scary, and they are serious issues that can arise if you smoke while you’re pregnant. That’s why it’s important that you quit smoking while pregnant to ensure your baby is born as healthily as they can be.

Stopping smoking will also help to support your baby after they’re born, as children whose parents smoke are more likely to experience other illness and conditions such as asthma.

The NHS states that cigarettes contain over 4,000 chemicals which can harm you and your unborn baby. If you smoke during pregnancy it restricts the oxygen supply to your baby which they need to support healthy development. A smaller amount of oxygen and harmful gasses created by smoking travel from the placenta to your baby which means that their heart must beat harder every time you smoke. This can put a lot of pressure and stress on your baby’s organs as they develop.

We know how hard quitting can be, especially if you’ve been smoking for a long time. At first you may want to cut down the number of cigarettes you smoke, although this may be easier, stopping completely is the best choice for you and your baby.

You can stop smoking at any point during your pregnancy, although the sooner you do the better it’ll be for you and your baby. If you’re trying to have a baby, you may want to consider stopping smoking even before you get pregnant. Our in-store Stop Smoking Service can help with advice from our pharmacist and stop smoking product recommendations tailored to you.

One of the most important things you can do for your baby is to quit smoking, the earlier the better. Smoking at any stage of pregnancy can harm your baby but smoking during the first trimester can affect how your baby develops throughout the second and third trimester. Smoking affects the birth weight of your baby causing it to be lower than it should be. Smoking can also mean your baby is shorter in length and that their brain is smaller compared to babies whose mother isn’t a smoker. This could mean that there are issues at the birth, or they have complications as they get older.

Smoking while pregnant can increase your risk of having a miscarriage. Studies show that the risk of miscarriage increases relative to the number of cigarettes smoked per day. So, if you’re thinking of getting pregnant or are pregnant you may want to start cutting down the amount you smoke or quit completely. Your midwife will be able to offer advice and the types of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) you can try from patches to gum. You can also speak to a pharmacist in your local LloydsPharmacy about our Stop Smoking Service. We’re here to help you stop smoking whenever you’re ready.

We’re here to help you stop smoking before you’re pregnant, throughout your pregnancy and when your little one arrives. Becoming smoke free may not be easy but the benefits to you and your baby will be worth it, especially as you can reduce the chance of your baby having any developmental issues. There are services and products you can use to help you quit smoking which can be prescribed by your GP or bought over the counter in your local pharmacy.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is safe to use while you’re pregnant as they don’t contain the tar or chemicals which make smoking dangerous. Simply choose from nicotine gum, sprays or patches. Just make sure to speak to your midwife, GP or a pharmacist before you use these stop smoking products. Why not try our stop smoking online tool and find the right product for you today.

It’s also advised that you stay smoke free after you have your baby so you can protect them from secondhand smoke which can lead to health complications such as asthma. If your partner smokes you can ask them to quit with you or avoid smoking around you. When you decide to quit smoking it’s best to let family and friends know so they can help support you during your pregnancy and afterwards.