Smoking is not safe when you’re pregnant. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 1 , the nicotine in cigarettes can hurt your baby’s lungs and brain. Babies exposed to nicotine from smoking also have a higher risk of birth defects, low birth weight, and sudden infant death after birth. Even e-cigarettes should not be used because some flavorings can be harmful to your developing baby.
As a pregnant person, if you smoke during your pregnancy, you’re at higher risk for:
Issues with your placenta
Vaginal bleeding
It can be difficult to quit smoking, even when you really want to. Luckily, lots of people want to help. You can text QUIT to 47848 and get daily support and reminders to help you stop the habit. The CDC offers an app called quitSTART that helps you prepare to quit and offers tips to manage cravings. You don’t have to kick the habit alone.
