Live Life Better Derbyshire offers friendly, non-judgemental stop smoking support to help you to stop smoking.
You are four times more likely to stop smoking with our help.
Call us on 0800 085 2299 or fill in our online health MOT to take the first steps to a smoke free future for you and your baby.
Stopping smoking in pregnancy is the most important thing you can do to improve not only your baby’s health but your own too.
Live Life Better Derbyshire can provide stop smoking support at any time throughout your pregnancy but the earlier you quit the better for you and your baby.
The Live Life Better Derbyshire stop smoking service offers:
- free nicotine replacement therapy such as patches and gum
- advice, information and support from a trained stop smoking advisor
- support available for friends and family; you are much more likely to quit and keep smoke free if people around you stop smoking with you
To find out more call Live Life Better Derbyshire tel: 0800 0852299.
Benefits of stopping smoking in pregnancy
Stopping smoking will help both you and your baby straight away.
24 hours after quitting your carbon monoxide levels fall to the level of a non-smoker meaning you have more oxygen in your blood which makes you and your baby healthier.
After quitting you will have:
- more energy
- more strength for labour
- a healthier baby
- increased breast milk
- more money
Using vapes to quit
Vapes are significantly less harmful than cigarettes. If using a vape helps you to keep smoke free it is significantly less harmful than continuing to smoke cigarettes.
For more information visit Smokefree Action to find out more.
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas which you cannot see or smell but is dangerous for you and your baby.
When you smoke carbon monoxide goes into your lungs which then travels into your blood stream.
The womb doesn’t protect your baby as carbon monoxide crosses into the baby’s bloodstream at the placenta.
Carbon monoxide levels are twice as much in babies compared to the mother. This means your baby has a lot less oxygen to grow healthy and strong.
The risks of smoking in pregnancy
When you smoke your baby does too.
Each time you have a cigarette it reduces the blood flow and oxygen to your baby for up to 20 minutes and also increases your baby’s heartbeat.
When you smoke you increase the risk of miscarriage, premature labour, stillbirth or cot death.
You also increase the risk of having a baby with:
- birth defects such cleft lip and heart problems
- low birth weight
- behavioural problems
- asthma and wheezing
Table to show the myths and facts of smoking in pregnancy
| Myth | Fact |
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It is easier to give birth to a smaller baby
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A lower birth weight does not mean an easier birth. A smaller baby often means a weaker baby which could lead to complications and a stressful delivery.
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The odd cigarette doesn't hurt
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Every cigarette causes damage to both you and your baby. There is no safe level of smoking as there are over 4,000 chemicals in every puff of a cigarette
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The stress of stopping smoking is worse for the baby than continuing to smoke.
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Smoking is far more damaging to you and your baby’s health than any stress from quitting.
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NHS SmokeFree also has lots of help and advice for parents to be.
There’s informative videos and articles on Tommy’s website too.