Frequently asked questions

Q: Don’t some mothers smoke during pregnancy and have healthy babies?

A: They are the lucky ones! If a woman smokes during pregnancy she takes a big chance with her baby’s health. The baby may be born prematurely, before their lungs are ready, so they may have trouble breathing.

Q: Babies often weigh less when the mother smokes. Isn’t it easier to deliver a small baby?

A: A low birth weight baby is often sick and may have health problems. Smaller babies are more likely to need special care and stay longer in the hospital. Don’t think that a smaller baby means an easier delivery. The baby’s head won’t be much smaller, and that’s the most difficult part to get out.

Q: Does cigarette smoke pass to the unborn baby?

A: Yes. When you smoke, so does the baby. When you smoke, you inhale poisons such as nicotine and carbon monoxide (the same gas that comes out of a car’s exhaust pipe). These poisons get into the placenta, which is the tissue that connects the mother and the baby. These poisons keep your unborn baby from getting the nutrients and oxygen needed to grow.

Q: Will I put on extra weight if I quit smoking when I’m pregnant?

A: You need to gain weight during pregnancy. Your baby depends on you to eat the right foods. So if you stay away from junk food and sweets, your weight gain will be fine. And you need to exercise. Your midwife or doctor can help you plan how to keep active – a brisk walk is good for most women. Even if you gain a few extra pounds, you can lose it after the baby’s born. Breastfeeding will help you lose any weight even quicker.

Q: How about if I cut down on cigarettes rather than quit for good?

A: The only way to really protect your unborn baby is to give up. Cutting down or switching to low tar cigarettes is of no benefit.

Q: Does it matter when I quit smoking?

A: The best time to give up is when you are planning a pregnancy.  If give up then, your baby will probably weigh the same as the baby of a woman who has never smoked. If you give up in the first three or four months of your pregnancy you can lower your baby’s chance of being born prematurely and with associated health problems.

Even if you give up at the end of your pregnancy, you can help her baby get more oxygen. It’s never too late, but the earlier the better for both of you!

Q: What about other people smoking around me?

A: If your partner smokes near you during your pregnancy you have a greater chance of having a low birth weight baby with the associated health problems.

Q: Does quitting smoking benefit me as well as the baby?

A: Pregnancy is a great time for you to give up. No matter how long you’ve been smoking, your body will benefit. You will feel better and have more energy to go through the pregnancy and to care for your new baby.

Of course, you will also avoid many of the future health risks of smoking such as heart disease, cancer and other lung problems. AND you will save money that you can spend on yourself and your new baby.

Q: If I quit smoking during pregnancy, will I have a hard time handling the stress?

A: You can learn to relax in other ways that are much better for you and your unborn baby. When you feel tense, you can take some deep breaths or chew sugarless gum. You can also do something with your hands like sew something for the baby or call a friend.

These are safer ways to handle stress. You can also remind yourself that smoking will not make things any better.

Q: If I breastfeed my baby, does the nicotine get into the milk?

A: Breastfeeding is the best way to feed a new baby.  A small amount of the chemicals in cigarette smoke pass to the baby via the breastmilk.  The safest option for breastfeeding mothers is not to smoke at all, but if you are unable to give up, smoke just after a breastfeed rather than before.

Q: Are there any long-term harmful effects on the baby if I smoke during pregnancy?

A: Yes, there can be. Smoking during pregnancy may mean that after your child is born they will have more colds and other lung problems, such as asthma.

Your child may also be a slower learner in school. They may be smaller than children of non-smokers, and they are more likely to smoke when they get older because they see their parents smoking.

Q: I know I shouldn’t smoke during pregnancy, but is it alright to go back to smoking after the baby is born?

A: It makes no sense at all for you to go back to smoking!  Even after the baby is born, your smoking can hurt the baby.

Babies have very small lungs and airways which get even smaller when they breathe smoke-filled air. Smoking can make it hard for the baby to breathe. It can cause lung problems like bronchitis and pneumonia.

Babies of mothers who smoke also get more colds and coughs and middle-ear infections. You should also ask family, friends, babysitters and childcare workers to smoke outdoors.