Smoking in Pregnancy
Giving up smoking is one of the best things that you can do both for the health of your baby and yourself.
Smoking while you are pregnant has been associated with:-
For the baby:-
- Slow growth of the fetus
- Premature Birth & Low Birth Weight (& in turn these babies are more likely to suffer from chronic lifelong disabilites, such as cerebral palsy)
- Still Birth
- Low Birth Weight
- Cot Death
- Breathing Problems
For the mother:-
- Miscarriage
- Bleeding
- Nausea
For help with giving up smoking phone the NHS Pregnancy Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 9 169 or visit their website www.givingupsmoking.co.uk.
Passive Smoking
Babies who are exposed to smokers are more at risk of:-
- Coughs, colds & chest infections
- Asthma attacks
- Meningitis
- Ear Infections & Glue Ear, which causes partial deafness
- Cot Death
Smoking while Breastfeeding
Smoking while breastfeeding has been linked to lower milk production. According to the La Leche League if the mother smokes fewer than 20 cigarettes a day the risks to her baby from the nicotine in her milk are small. Smoking should be avoided just before and during feeding. For more detailed information on smoking while breastfeeding visit La Leche League.
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