Effects of smoking on your baby

When you smoke your baby does too.

Every cigarette you smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals. Many of these can harm your unborn baby.  

Cigarettes can reduce the amount of oxygen and nutrients that pass through the placenta from you to your baby. This increases the risk of serious pregnancy complications, including miscarriage.

Stopping smoking can be hard. But it is one of the best things you can do for a safe and healthy pregnancy.

Get help to stop smoking

NHS. Stop smoking in pregnancy. https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/stop-smoking/ (Page last reviewed: 10 January 2023 Next review due: 10 January 2026)

Review dates
Reviewed: 23 November 2023
Next review: 23 November 2026

Read more about smoking in pregnancy