The key takeaway is that quitting smoking at any stage of pregnancy is beneficial for both the mother and the baby. The sooner a pregnant woman quits, the better the chances for a healthier pregnancy.
Your blood pressure and pulse rate return to normal levels.
Cigarette smoke disrupts the amount of oxygen that reaches your baby. Quitting improves oxygen flow, which is crucial for the baby’s development.
Smoking increases the risk of congenital disabilities, such as cleft lip or limb deficiencies. Quitting helps lower this risk.
Stopping smoking increases your chances for a healthier pregnancy and a healthier baby.
If you think you need NRT to quit, it’s crucial to ask your doctor or another healthcare professional for advice.
The advice is similar for breastfeeding mothers: try to quit without NRT. If that’s not possible, intermittent use of an NRT product is a better option than continuing to smoke. Discuss this with your doctor.
