Smoking

Cigarettes restrict the essential oxygen supply to your baby, so their heart has to beat harder every time you smoke. 

Smoking also increases your risk of miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, complications in labour and sudden infant death syndrome.

Your midwife will talk to you about stopping smoking and they can refer you to our Stop Smoking Service for extra support.

“I am now very happy and smoke free. It makes me feel a lot safer as I know I’m not causing harm to my baby girl or myself. It is great to see the CO blow machine flashing green with a low number rather than red like in the beginning.”

Feedback from a maternity patient who used the Stop Smoking Service

Information about smoking in pregnancy

Smoking tobacco can increase risks for you and your baby during pregnancy and beyond.
But the good news is — you can get help to stop, and stopping at any time will help you and your baby.

Smoking can increase the chances of:

• Losing your baby (miscarriage or stillbirth)
• Your baby being born too early (twice as likely chance of premature birth before 37 weeks)
• Your baby not growing well and being born a low birth weight (three times more likely).
• Your baby becoming unwell or dying after birth
• Health problems later in your child’s life

Stopping smoking can feel hard, but free, non-judgemental and friendly support is available. You do not have to do this by yourself – you are 3 times more likely to quit successfully with expert support than trying to do it on your own. Quitting alongside a partner or close family member or friend is also incredibly beneficial and can provide added motivation for you both to do it together.

Your midwife can help you:

• Talk through your options
• Refer you to specialist stop smoking support who will work with you to reduce your carbon monoxide levels and help you find what works best for you

If you are pregnant, you can receive free, expert support from the specialist maternity stop smoking service – ask your midwife for a referral or contact the team on: [email protected]

If your partner or another household or family member would like free support to stop smoking, they can self-refer to the Leeds Stop Smoking Service, phone: 0800 169 4219 or text: QUIT to 66777.

• It is never too late to stop
• Every cigarette you and your partner stop helps your baby
• You deserve support, not judgement

Support and information

• Support to stop smoking during pregnancy – Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
• Smoking – safer sleep information from The Lullaby Trust
• Vaping before, during and after pregnancy: leaflets and infographics – ASH
• CO screening – Test Your Breath Leaflet. Download in 10 languages here: CO screening: resources for healthcare professionals
• Free stop smoking support for your household and family members in Leeds: General Stop Smoking Service | Leeds Stop Smoking Services
• Smoking and your baby: advice for parents leaflet – ASH
• Stop smoking in pregnancy – NHS
• NHS Support: Quit smoking – Better Health – NHS
• Email support service – 28 days of stop smoking advice and tips: Smokefree Registration. Free NHS Smokefree app also includes tips, mission goals, reminders, and health information.
• Secondhand Smoke – ASH