Benefits
Quitting smoking before pregnancy is best, but quitting at any time has benefits for you and your baby.
Smoking increases the risk of:
- Serious medical problems at delivery
- Premature or early delivery
- Miscarriage
- Stillborn birth
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Benefits for you when you stop smoking:
- You will be more energetic and breathe easier
- Your sense of taste and smell improves
- You will save money
- Your fingers will no longer look yellow
- Your clothes, hair and home will smell better
- You can feel proud of what you have accomplished for yourself and your baby
- You are no longer controlled by cigarettes
- You and your family will have fewer colds, allergies and asthma attacks
- You will have a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer
Benefits for your baby:
- Your baby will get more oxygen
- Your baby’s lungs will be stronger
- It increases the chance of your baby growing to a healthy weight and size
- It increases the chance of your baby coming home from the hospital with you
- It lowers the risk of SIDS
- It lowers the chance your baby will develop respiratory infections, allergies and asthma