For your baby’s sake, don’t smoke! Learning that you’re going to have a baby can be really exciting, but it can also cause anxiety and stress. For many women who smoke, thinking about stopping when pregnant may seem very difficult and overwhelming.
But consider this: According to the Office of the Surgeon General, stopping smoking is probably the most important change you can make to prevent an unhealthy pregnancy. Stopping smoking offers you and your baby the best chance for a healthy start.
Stop and think for a moment about what you just read. It’s an important choice, and it’s as simple as choosing between another cigarette or having a healthy baby.
How does smoking harm my baby?
- Your baby gets less oxygen, which may prevent the brain from developing normally.
- Your baby has a higher chance of being born too small.
- Your baby’s more likely to have health problems, such as asthma and childhood cancers.
- You raise the chance of miscarriage, stillbirth and infant death.
How will I help my baby when I stop smoking?
When you stop smoking, you improve your health and your baby’s health. Your baby gets more oxygen.
Your baby is more likely to achieve its normal weight and size.
You and your baby’s chances of health problems, now and later, are reduced.
How can I quit? Giving up something I do everyday is really hard!
It is hard, but it’s worth it. You’d never offer your baby a cigarette, so now is a great time to start protecting him or her—and improve your health, too!
- Make every effort to stop
- Create a quit plan
- Tell your doctor or nurse (or pharmacist) you want to stop
- Ask for support
- Try to avoid other smokers
- Think about what makes you want to smoke
- Be active
You have the two best reasons to stop smoking: YOU and YOUR BABY. Give your baby the best chance for a healthy start. You can do it!
Call the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine at 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669). It’s FREE!
Watch this video to learn more about Tobacco and Smoking from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: