Quitting while pregnant

A smokefree pregnancy helps pēpi to grow well and develop healthy lungs. 

It's better to quit before becoming pregnant, but quitting during pregnancy will also be better for you and your baby's growth and health.

Health impacts of smoking during pregnancy

The kōpū (womb) is your baby’s first home. Being smokefree ensures that a baby gets enough oxygen and protects them from toxins in cigarette smoke.

If you smoke when you are pregnant, your unborn baby is also exposed to the health effects. Less oxygen reaches the womb, and your baby’s heart beats faster than normal.

Smoking during pregnancy can:

• increase the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth
• increase risk of being born too early (premature birth) or being low birth weight
• increase the risk of a baby developing asthma, glue ear or other health problems
• increase the risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI). 

SUDI refers to a baby suddenly dying in their sleep. One of the ways to reduce risk is by not smoking while pregnant and not smoking when baby is born.

Mental wellbeing

Pregnancy can bring emotional changes as well as physical changes. It can be an exciting time, but it can also feel stressful or overwhelming. Some people use smoking to cope with feelings like stress, anxiety, or sadness. 

Quitting smoking and getting support for your mental wellbeing is important for keeping both you and your baby healthy. Get tips on managing stress without smoking.

Hāpu whānau stop smoking programmes

It’s not always easy to stop smoking, but the good news is there’s lots of support available before, during and after pregnancy. 

Your local stop smoking service has programmes for people who are pregnant and their whānau. Many of them will provide support such as: 

• incentive vouchers or rewards as you reach smokefree milestones
• free NRT products that can help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms
• a quit coach that can help through tough times in your quitting journey and celebrate your successes
• links to other services like hāputanga or antenatal support
• kaupapa Māori and Pacific services.

Find a stop smoking service

Quitline also offers phone support, NRT, and are available 24/7.

Using NRT while pregnant

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is far safer than smoking during pregnancy and can help people quit smoking. NRT does not contain the harmful substances in tobacco, and provides a lower amount of nicotine.

Your doctor, midwife, or a stop smoking service can help you make decisions about what can work for you. 

Vaping while pregnant

If you don’t smoke, do not vape while pregnant. 

Both NRT and vaping provide nicotine, but there are differences between these two methods. Vaping exposes unborn babies to vapour and potentially harmful substances. These are absent from NRT.

If you're struggling to quit smoking and have tried NRT, talk to your GP, Quitline or stop smoking service about your options.

Remaining smokefree after giving birth

Staying smokefree after your pēpi is born is also important. It protects your baby’s health and helps you stay healthier too. If cravings get tough, reach out for support from whānau or a quit coach. Remember, every smokefree day is a big win for you and your whānau.

Smokefree environments

Whānau can make lifestyle changes to ensure their pēpi has the best start in life. Stopping smoking also sets a great example for tamariki. Children whose parents or caregivers smoke are 7 times more likely to start smoking, so quitting is a way of supporting the next generation to be be smokefree.

Being nicotine-free is always best when somebody in your household is pregnant. The whole household can help keep both the unborn baby and pregnant person safe and healthy. Secondhand smoke is especially harmful to babies, and can increase breathing problems and SUDI.

If you are trying to get pregnant or are pregnant, it can be a good idea to have conversations early with everyone you live with about your environment, including your home and car. Smoke on clothing and surfaces can also be harmful. Get some tips on keeping your home and car smokefree and vapefree.