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The risks
If you smoke while pregnant, your baby shares the chemical from the smoke you breathe. The dangerous chemicals in other people’s smoke will also affect your baby.
Here’s how:
The lungs
When you smoke, or inhale other people's second-hand smoke, the smoke goes into your lungs.
Toxic chemicals are then absorbed into your bloodstream and some of the oxygen is replaced by carbon monoxide.
This means that the oxygen supply to your baby may be restricted.
The womb
Your baby gets absolutely everything from you.
Nutrients and oxygen are delivered to your baby through your blood by the placenta and umbilical cord – vital for your baby’s development and safe birth.
Smoking while you're pregnant exposes your baby to dangerous toxins, which can damage the placenta.
Heart
When you smoke you inhale over 4,000 chemicals from the cigarette, including carbon monoxide, which gets into your bloodstream.
This restricts the oxygen that's essential for your baby's healthy growth and development, and means their tiny heart has to beat harder every time you smoke.
During birth
Smoking can cause a greater risk of miscarriage and stillbirth.
Your baby is more likely to be born prematurely and with a low birth weight.
After birth
Your child is three times as likely to become a smoker as they get older.
Your child is more at risk of getting infections such as inflammation of the middle ear in childhood.
Smoking during pregnancy can increase the risk of asthma and other chest infections in young children.
Both you and your baby will benefit straight away.
The carbon monoxide and other chemicals will quickly leave your body. There will be more oxygen in your blood, and you and your baby will be much healthier.
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