It's never too late to quit smoking, especially if you're pregnant. Stopping smoking will help you and your baby straight away. It can be really hard to stop, but preventing your baby from exposure to tobacco smoke is one of the best things you can do to give them the best start.
During pregnancy, every time you smoke your baby's heart has to beat harder to get oxygen. If you quit smoking, it reduces the risk of stillbirth, your baby is less likely to be born too early and have breathing problems.
There are lots of reasons to stop smoking during pregnancy and beyond. Giving up cigarettes reduces the risk of cot death/sudden infant death syndrome. Your baby is less likely to be born underweight, which means they are less likely to have a problems keeping warm and reduces the risk of catching infections. Babies whose parents smoke are more likely to suffer from asthma or be admitted to hospital for bronchitis and pneumonia.
If anyone else who lives with you smokes, their smoke can affect you and the baby both before and after birth. Secondhand smoke can reduce the baby's birth weight and increase the risk of cot death.
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