Kick the habit: Why you should give up smoking when pregnant

Everyone knows that smoking is bad for their health, but it is even more damaging for an unborn child.

Quitting smoking in general is good for your health, so quitting when you are planning a pregnancy or are pregnant is hugely beneficial to your baby’s health, too.

Smoking even just a few cigarettes a day means your baby will absorb all of the same damaging chemicals that you are breathing in.

Smoking increases pregnancy complications greatly, with research showing that miscarriage is up to 50 percent more likely in smokers than non-smokers.

According to Quit.ie, it is never too late to quit. Giving up smoking at any stage during your pregnancy is beneficial and can reduce the risk of your baby being born premature, underweight or ill. The risk of stillbirth or cot death also decreases.

Here are four reasons why you should quit today:

1. By smoking, you inhale nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide, along with 7000 other harmful chemicals.

2. Babies are more likely to suffer from respiratory conditions such as asthma, wheezing and chest infections.

3. Cot death is three times more likely among smokers.

4. Quitting is the only way to protect your unborn baby – cutting down or switching to low-tar cigarettes is of no benefit.

If you would like to get more information or help to quit smoking, Quit.ie is available by phone, chat and on social media, Monday to Saturday.