What
you need to know:
Smoking harms your baby. When you smoke, your baby gets less
oxygen. Lack of oxygen can cause your baby to grow more slowly
and gain less weight in the womb. Smoking during pregnancy has
also been linked to preterm labor and other pregnancy complications.
What you can do:
Quit or cut back as much as you can. We know it's hard, but
remember, you're doing this for your baby. Here are some resources
that can help:
· Your health care provider
· National Partnership to Help Pregnant Smokers Quit
· The American Legacy Foundation
· smokefree.gov
Pregnant women who don't smoke should avoid other people's smoke.
Studies suggest that regular exposure to secondhand smoke may
harm the baby.
· Write down your reasons for quitting. Look at the list
when you are tempted to smoke.
· Choose a "quit day." On that day, throw away
all your cigarettes, lighters and ashtrays.
· Stay away from places, activities or people that make
you feel like smoking.
· Ask your partner or a friend to help you quit, and
call that person when you feel like smoking.
· Ask your health care provider about quitting aids such
as patches, gum, nasal spray and medications. Don't start using
these without your health care provider's okay especially if
you are pregnant.
· Don't get discouraged if you don't quit completely
right away. Keep trying. If you can't quit, cut back as much
as you can.
· The Tobacco Research and Intervention Program (TRIP)
helps women who are pregnant and who have quit smoking to remain
smoke-free. For an informational booklet about staying smoke-free,
call this toll free number (877) 954-2548.
· Ask your employer to see what services are offered
or covered by insurance.
· Learn about smoking cessation programs in your community.
You can get more information from you health care provider,
hospital or health department. The organizations listed below
can also help:
o National Partnership to Help Pregnant Smokers Quit
o The American Legacy Foundation
o smokefree.gov
o You may also call the toll-free number (800) QUIT-NOW.
"This is supported by Federal Title V/Maternal
and Child Health Block Grant Funds awarded to North Central
District Health Department by Nebraska Health and Human Services"
© 2006 March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation. All rights
reserved. The March of Dimes is a not-for-profit organization
recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code section
501(c)(3). Our mission is to improve the health of babies by
preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.
