Prefer to order by mail click here for a printable order form
How many cigarettes a day is your baby smoking?
If you or your partner smoke then the answer is simple - the same number that you are.
Smoking during Pregnancy
When you find out that you are pregnant it should give you a powerful motivation to give up smoking, because you want to protect your unborn baby who is completely dependent on you. Even moderate smoking or second-hand cigarette smoke is damaging to your unborn baby, so quitting is the most important thing you can do to improve your health and your baby's health.
It is never too late to stop smoking. Every cigarette you decide not to smoke will help your health and your baby's health.
Why is smoking harmful in pregnancy?
Tobacco smoke contains poisonous chemicals which pass into your bloodstream when you smoke, and then on into your growing baby's bloodstream, and at the same time some of the oxygen in your blood is replaced by carbon monoxide.
If you are pregnant when you smoke, your blood and therefore your unborn baby's blood, will contain less oxygen than normal and your baby will be exposed to the poisonous toxins which are in the tobacco smoke.
Babies born to mothers who smoke: -
- are more likely to be born prematurely
- are more likely to be born with a low birth weight (below 2.5kg or 5lb 8oz)
- have organs that are smaller on average than babies born to non-smokers
- have poorer lung function which effects thier breathing
- are twice as likely to die from cot death, there seems to be a direct link between cot death and parents smoking
- are ill more frequently, babies born to women who smoked 15 cigarettes or more a day during pregnancy are taken into hospital twice as often during the first eight months of life
- are more likely to become smokers themselves in later years
In addition, pregnant women who smoke increase their risk of miscarriage.
In later pregnancy, smoking mothers are at increased risk of the baby's placenta coming away from the lining of the womb before the baby is due to be born (placental abruption). This may cause the baby to be born prematurely, starve of oxygen, or even to die in the womb (stillborn).
Even after the birth, babies of smoking parents have an increased risk of developing chest infections, asthma, 'glue ear', and sudden infant death syndrome (cot death).
When should I stop smoking?
The sooner you stop, the better. But stopping even in the last few weeks of pregnancy can still be beneficial.
If any members of your household smoke, their smoke can affect you and the baby both before and after birth. They can help you and the baby by giving up now. Perhaps you could try to stop smoking together.
If you stop smoking now
- you’ll have less morning sickness
- you’ll have fewer complications in pregnancy
- you'll reduce the risk of miscarriage
- you’re more likely to have a healthier pregnancy and a healthier baby
- you’ll reduce the risk of a stillbirth
- you’ll cope better during the birth
- your baby will cope better with any birth complications
- your baby is less likely to be born too early and have breathing, feeding and other premature baby health problems
- your baby is less likely to be born underweight which can make them more prone to infection
What about NRT?
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) - that includes nicotine gum, sprays, patches, tablets, lozenges, and inhalers all contain nicotine and are all available, but all types of NRT are medicines and the risk to the unborn child is not fully known, as anything which enters the bloodstream of the mother, like nicotine, will effect your baby. On top of this the success rates for NRT are only around 30% at best.
What is the safest way to stop smoking?
The safest way to help yourself, and protect your unborn child, is to stop smoking with the assistance of Hypnotherapy, which is a completely natural solution. Hypnotherapy has a very good success rate for stopping smoking, of around 90%, and is safe for you and your unborn baby
One-to-one hypnotherapy sessions to stop smoking are often very expensive, but now with our Stop Smoking Forever CD you can benefit from professional hypnotherapy at home, for a fraction of the price of even a single one-to-one session.
Hypnotherapy is so effective and gentle, while you listen to the CD and Freya Forrester, the hypnotherapist, speaks soothingly to your inner mind, you will enjoy a deep relaxation, which is beneficial for both you and your baby. You can read more about how the Certain Words CD can help you to stop smoking here.
It is never too late to stop smoking for you and your baby's health.