Pregnancy is the best possible time to stop smoking - for you, and for your baby.
We know quitting is hard. We know pregnancy is already overwhelming. This page is not here to lecture you - it’s here to give you the facts, the safest treatments available in pregnancy, and a warm, non-judgmental advisor who has supported hundreds of mothers through exactly this.
One conversation. No judgment. A proper plan.
Every cigarette you smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals - and during pregnancy, all of them cross into your baby’s bloodstream through the placenta. The good news is that quitting at any stage of pregnancy helps. Your body, and your baby’s, start repairing themselves from the very first hour.
Our stop smoking advisors are trained specifically to support pregnant smokers. We work closely with midwives at the Royal London and Barts Health, and we can see you in person, by phone or by video - whatever fits your pregnancy.
What changes the moment you stop.
These are real, measurable changes for you and your baby - many of them happen within hours and days of your last cigarette.
Your baby gets more oxygen
Within 24 hours of your last cigarette, carbon monoxide leaves your body. More oxygen reaches your baby through the placenta almost immediately.
Reduced miscarriage risk
Smokers are around 2× more likely to miscarry than non-smokers. Quitting in the first trimester dramatically reduces that risk.
Better birth weight
Babies born to mothers who quit during pregnancy have higher birth weights on average - which means healthier lungs, fewer admissions, and a stronger start in life.
Lower SIDS risk
Babies of mothers who smoke during pregnancy are twice as likely to die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Quitting halves that risk.
Real money saved
The average 10-a-day smoker spends around £2,000 a year on cigarettes. That’s a pram, a cot, and months of nappies.
A healthier you
Quitting improves your breathing, energy, circulation and sleep - all of which make the last trimester and labour noticeably easier.
What smoking during pregnancy does to your baby.
We’re not going to sugar-coat this, because you deserve the facts in plain English. But remember: reading this list is not a reason to feel guilt. It’s a reason to pick up the phone and let us help.
- Low birth weight - linked to infant mortality and later chronic health problems, including lower lung function and asthma
- Premature birth - smoking increases the risk of delivery before 37 weeks
- Ectopic pregnancy - when the egg implants outside the uterus, requiring urgent medical treatment
- Miscarriage - around twice the risk compared to non-smokers (Royal College of Midwives)
- Stillbirth - smoking is a significant contributor to avoidable stillbirths
- SIDS (cot death) - babies of mothers who smoked in pregnancy are twice as likely to die of SIDS
- Childhood asthma and chest infections - lifelong higher rates
- Placental problems - including placental abruption and placenta praevia
Second-hand smoke counts too. If your partner or someone in the household smokes, the same chemicals reach your baby. Ask us about support for partners - we treat them too, free of charge.
Quitting before you conceive is the strongest start you can give your baby.
Smoking affects fertility in both women and men. The effects are reversible - most reverse within a few months of quitting.
- For women: smoking reduces egg quality, hormone production, and the chance of successful implantation. It can also bring on earlier menopause.
- For men: smoking lowers sperm count, reduces motility, and increases the risk of DNA damage in sperm.
- For IVF and assisted conception: smokers have noticeably lower success rates. Most fertility clinics now ask both partners to quit before starting treatment.
- Both partners quitting together roughly doubles the chance of success. We can see you as a couple, at the same appointment.
One free, confidential conversation - and your baby’s start changes.
Book a free 30-minute consultation with one of our specialist pregnancy advisors. No judgment, no lectures. Just a plan, a listening ear, and the right medication for your stage of pregnancy.