Today is No Smoking Day and here at NCIC we are sharing some tips for pregnant and new mums from Gillian Connery, assistant practitioner and maternity stop smoking advisor.
Q: I’m pregnant and have been smoking, so there is no point in stopping now.
A: Quitting smoking at any stage of your pregnancy has health benefits for you and your baby. Even after just one day of not smoking, your baby will get more oxygen. This will help your baby’s lungs develop well. Quitting now also lowers your chances of having a baby with low birth weight.
Q: Quitting smoking will be too stressful on my baby.
A: Quitting smoking doesn’t put extra stress on your baby. It’s one of the best things that you can do for your health and your baby’s health during pregnancy—and after the baby is born. By quitting smoking now, you will be protecting your baby from the dangers of second-hand smoke and reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
Q: Smoking fewer cigarettes or switching to e-cigarettes during pregnancy is OK.
A: There is no safe amount of smoking. Every puff of a cigarette releases harmful chemicals that will reach your baby and affect your health too. E-cigarettes are fairly new and there are still some things we do not know. However, current evidence on e-cigarettes indicates they are much less risky than smoking.
Q: Smoking relaxes me, and being relaxed is better for me and my baby.
A: Smoking may make you feel calmer, but it hurts your body more than it helps. The relaxed feeling is only temporary and whatever is causing your stress will likely return. Smoking speeds up your heart rate and increases your blood pressure. It also increases the carbon monoxide in your bloodstream, which means your baby gets less oxygen.
Q: There is nothing wrong with having a small baby.
A: Smoking during pregnancy increases the chances of having a low birth weight baby. Babies with low birth weight are more likely to have serious health problems than normal weight babies. These problems can affect your baby’s health now, throughout their childhood, and into adulthood.
Q: Tips for quitting smoking in pregnancy
A: Pregnant women have other ways to quit smoking besides cold turkey,
You can use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) during pregnancy it will help you stop smoking NRT which is available
Patches
Gum
Inhalator
Nasal spray
Mouth spray
Lozenges
Micro tabs
Remember you are twice as likely to quit smoking if you get some support from a trained adviser which can be contacted through your Midwife or maybe download the NHS smoke free App
Getting through the first few days.
One day at a time it’s a cliché but it works. Make your goal to get through today without smoking, rather than worrying about how you’ll manage without cigarettes for the rest of your life. There will be times when you are tempted to give in and have a cigarette, but if you stay determined, the temptation will pass. These suggestions may help
If you usually smoke when you’re chatting on the phone, move the ashtray;
If you have a cigarette first thing in the morning, get up and have a shower instead;
If you enjoy a cigarette after a meal, try cleaning your teeth or chewing sugar-free gum after eating.
Be prepared Think of things you can do to keep your hands and mouth busy.
Focus on decorating the Nursery
Enjoy preparing for baby’s arrival
Chew sugar-free gum;
Snack on fruit and veg;
Drink fruit juice;
Doodle with a pen or pencil
Do some cleaning;
Learn to relax and deal with stress.
Reward yourself for each week you manage not to smoke. Use some of the money you would have spent on cigarettes to go to the cinema, have your hair done, or buy yourself something nice.