Stop smoking in pregnancy

Chief Medical Officer Prof. Chris Whitty, Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Public Health England have all publicly highlighted smokers are at an increased risk of suffering severe complications if they get COVID-19. This is because smoking damages the lungs and weakens the immune system, making it harder to fight infections.

From the moment you quit smoking, the body starts to heal itself which will help the body’s ability to fight off illnesses. Stopping smoking not only benefits the health of the person who quits but has an impact on everyone they live with, especially now we’re all spending so much time in our homes

In Greater Manchester there is lots of support available to help you quit. Quitting when pregnant isn’t easy, the good news is that you will be given all the support that you need, from your specialist midwifery support worker who is trained and experienced in helping pregnant women to quit smoking. Speak to your midwife and look at resources on the Greater Manchester Health hub. 

Quitting smoking is the single most important thing a person can do for their health. During pregnancy smoking should be avoided and it is also recommended to avoid exposure to tobacco smoke -from other people. Second hand smoke poses a serious risk to those who are pregnant and the health of babies both before and after birth.

If your partner smokes, this increases the risk of your baby’s health being affected, including increased risk in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Partners can get support by talking to a trained adviser on the Greater Manchester Stop Smoking Helpline: 0300 123 1044 or visit YouCanGM.org

It is important to avoid smoking around:

• those who are pregnant
• those who look after babies/children
• babies/children

This includes not smoking in the house or car.

For further information about smoking and pregnancy, have a look at this patient leaflet from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.