Is it OK to smoke during pregnancy? I’m finding it hard to stop – is cutting down OK?
Smoking involves inhaling carbon monoxide and nicotine which then pass out of your lungs and into your bloodstream. The nicotine makes it harder for your baby to get oxygen and so causes its heart to beat beat faster. This means that your baby may not grow at the rate that it should do. Cigarette smoke contains toxic substances which change the blood’s ability to work in a healthy and normal manner. This can affect the placenta which feeds your baby. Passive smoking during pregnancy can still affect your baby. After birth, babies exposed to smoke are more likely to suffer from conditions such as asthma, and frequent chest infections. There is also a significantly higher risk of sudden infant death, also known as cot death, if either you or your partner smokes. It is never too late to stop smoking. Every cigarette you decide not to smoke will help you and your baby’s health. It may be tempting just to cut down, but many smokers find they inhale more deeply when smoking fewer cigarettes.
