Quitting smoking during pregnancy is one of the best decisions you can make to protect your baby’s health. Although London Smoke Free Pregnancy Week has passed, the message remains clear—there’s no safe level of smoking during pregnancy, and the risks for both mother and baby can be serious.

Smoking while pregnant exposes your baby to over 4,000 harmful chemicals, including carbon monoxide, which restricts oxygen flow and forces your baby’s heart to work overtime. This raises the risk of complications such as miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, low birth weight, and developmental abnormalities like cleft lip or palate. Babies born to mothers who smoke are also at higher risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), as well as long-term conditions like asthma, learning difficulties, and ADHD.

The good news is, the benefits of quitting start immediately. By stopping smoking, you remove harmful toxins like carbon monoxide from your system, improving the oxygen supply to your baby and giving them a better chance of a healthy start in life. Pregnant women who quit are more likely to have healthier, happier pregnancies, and their babies benefit too.

If you’re looking for help, there’s support available across London. Midwives and local stop smoking services offer tailored advice, ensuring you get the right tools and encouragement to quit for good. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) such as patches, gum, or lozenges is safe to use during pregnancy and can ease withdrawal symptoms. Research shows that combining NRT with expert guidance increases your chances of success. However, smoking cessation tablets are not recommended while pregnant.

Secondhand smoke is another major concern. Smoke from others in your household can harm your baby’s development, even after birth. It increases the risk of respiratory conditions like bronchitis and pneumonia in their first year. If someone you live with smokes, encourage them to quit too—quitting together can make the process easier and more effective.

For those considering vaping, experts agree that it’s a much safer alternative to smoking. Vapes don’t produce harmful carbon monoxide or tar, making them a useful tool to help you stay smokefree if other methods have failed.

Even after birth, staying smokefree is crucial for your baby’s health. However, if you relapse, it’s important to know that breastfeeding still provides essential nutrients and protection for your baby’s immune system. Avoiding cigarettes completely is the best choice for both of you, but support is always available if you’re struggling.

While London Smoke Free Pregnancy Week may be over, the commitment to helping pregnant women quit smoking continues. Don’t wait—reach out to your midwife or local stop smoking service today for personalised support. Every step towards quitting is a step towards giving your baby the healthiest start in life.

Source: Stop Smoking London