Smokefree Island

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Congratulations,
you have a baby
on the way!

Smokefree Island understand how quitting smoking whilst pregnant can be difficult.
Our free specialist support can make it easier.

​Self-refer today

How can we help?

This may be an exciting but anxious time for you. We are here to support you to give your baby the best possible start in life.

We can give you free patches and inhalators to help you quit. These are safe to use during pregnancy.

  • Although not completely risk free, it is safer to vape than to smoke during your pregnancy. We can offer you a voucher for a vape starter kit.
  • Our Specialist Smoking in Pregnancy Advisors can give you free and friendly support along the way. This can be face to face or by phone, which ever you prefer.
  • We can support you alongside partners and family to quit for good, helping you to create a smokefree home for your baby.

How smoking affects you and your baby

*Kindly click on each interactive point to explore the complete range of effects.

More than 4000 chemicals are absorbed into your bloodstream when smoking, including ammonia (found in toilet cleaner), arsenic (a poison) & carbon monoxide. When you smoke, more than 4000 chemicals are absorbed into your bloodstream, including ammonia (found in toilet cleaner), arsenic (a poison) and carbon monoxide.

Smoking reduces the oxygen supply to your baby, which can cause restricted growth and development, premature birth, and result in a lower birth weight. These factors can lead to a weaker baby and a more challenging birth.

The placenta is vital for baby’s wellbeing. Smoking raises the chances of bleeding, placental abruption (placenta detaches/peels away), and placenta praevia (placenta blocks the womb entrance).

Your baby is more likely to be born with low birth weight if you smoke. Smaller babies can face difficulties during and after birth. For example, they are more likely to have problems with keeping warm and are more likely to get infections.

If you smoke during pregnancy, you’re five times more likely to get preeclampsia. A major reason why women in the UK die during childbirth.

Breathing in cigarette smoke damages lungs and makes breathing more difficult.

Smoking while you’re pregnant raises the chances of your baby being stillborn or experiencing sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Smoking can restrict the essential oxygen supply to your baby. As a result, their heart must beat harder to receive oxygen around their body.

Why should I quit?

  • Quitting at any stage of pregnancy will help protect you and your baby and will immediately protect baby from harmful gases and other damaging chemicals.

  • You can reduce the risk of complications at birth by quitting smoking.

  • You can reduce the risk of your baby developing serious health issues from birth and in later life by quitting.

  • You can prevent your baby from being exposed to second-hand smoke which carries similar risks to smoking yourself.

Get help to quit

Why should I quit?

  • Quitting at any stage of pregnancy will help protect you and your baby and will immediately protect baby from harmful gases and other damaging chemicals.

  • You can reduce the risk of complications at birth by quitting smoking.

  • You can reduce the risk of your baby developing serious health issues from birth and in later life by quitting.

  • You can prevent your baby from being exposed to second-hand smoke which carries similar risks to smoking yourself.

Get help to quit

Other useful resources

Video
NHS advice
Smokefree Pregnancy Leaflet
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