Quitting tobacco and nicotine products, like cigarettes, and avoiding second-hand contact with tobacco smoke or vape aerosol, can help you to have a healthier pregnancy and birth experience. It also helps give your baby a healthier start in life.
Vaping is not a safe alternative to smoking during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Although vaping is less harmful compared to smoking, nicotine is toxic to your baby. Nicotine is a health danger to you and your pregnancy. Nicotine can also put your baby at higher risk of a number of health issues.
Tobacco and vape products also contain toxic chemicals. Some are known to cause cancer. During pregnancy, nicotine and chemicals in these products can reach your baby through the placenta. After they are born, it reaches them through breastmilk.
Benefits for you
When you quit for your own reasons, you're more likely to stick with it (even after you've had your baby or stopped breastfeeding). When you quit, those around you benefit too. Stopping smoking and vaping can help you:
- help your body make more breastmilk that is more nutritious
- lower your blood pressure, heart rate and risk of other harms from smoking and vaping
- improve your chances of living a healthier and longer life
- break the cycle of addiction and feel more in control
- save money for other things
- be a healthy role model
Benefits for your baby
When you stop using tobacco and nicotine products during pregnancy and avoid second-hand tobacco smoke and vape aerosol, it means: it means:
- Your baby has a better chance of being born at a healthy weight. A smaller baby from smoking or vaping doesn't mean easier labour and birth. Smaller babies are more likely to have health issues and stay in the hospital longer.
- Your baby is more likely to be born full-term. Babies born too early (premature) often have trouble breathing at birth.
- Your baby has less risk of birth defects, miscarriage, stillbirth, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Your baby’s brain and lungs are more able to grow healthy and strong.
- Your baby is less likely to have respiratory illness and infections. They are also less likely to have difficulty with memory, learning, attention, behaviour, and mental health issues later in life.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding provides many health benefits and nutrition for your baby. When you use tobacco or nicotine products, nicotine gets into your breastmilk. Nicotine can reduce the nutrition and supply of your breastmilk. Your baby may also be more likely to refuse feedings, be fussy, sleep poorly, and spit up.
If you use tobacco and nicotine products, you are still encouraged to breastfeed your baby. Time your use to right after your baby is done feeding. This will give your body more time to remove the nicotine from your breastmilk before your baby’s next feeding.
When your baby constantly breastfeeds for hours at a time, do your best to skip using tobacco or nicotine products such a cigarette or vape. Never skip a feeding. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about feeding your baby.
Quitting and reducing harm
If you haven’t done so already, move smoking and vaping outside your home and car. Keep it outdoors and away from doorways, windows, air intakes and your family.
Before you smoke or vape outside, put on clothing like a jacket or sweater to be a barrier to the chemicals in tobacco smoke or vape aerosol. Take this clothing off when you come inside to reduce third-hand chemical residue from getting into your home. Wash your hands and face before cuddling your baby or children. Learn more at Smoking and vaping exposures.
How you can reduce harm:
- Remove household items like ashtrays that may trigger you to use.
- Put up signs to remind others not to smoke or vape inside.
- Wash down surfaces and walls, wash bedding and curtains to remove chemical residue from smoking and vaping. The clean smell will motivate you to not use. Try to make your home and car clean air spaces.
Quitting can be hard, but it is possible. Many people feel motivated to quit just before or during pregnancy. No matter how far along you are in your pregnancy or breastfeeding, the health benefits of quitting can start right away for you and your baby.
The best approach is to make a change plan to reduce and quit. Consider the following:
- When you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, the first step to quitting is with counseling alone. If quitting without medicine is too difficult, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) may be considered by your healthcare provider and pharmacist.
- If you don’t think you can stop using tobacco or other nicotine products all at once, first try cutting down on the amount you use. If you vape, use lower nicotine or no nicotine liquid.
- Ask your family and friends to support you. Here are some support services to help you quit.
- If you live in Alberta, call AlbertaQuits Helpline (1-866-710-7848).
Quitting is a process, not an event. It may take some effort to reduce and quit. Be patient with yourself and be positive about small changes. If you make a slip or relapse, see it as a learning opportunity and keep trying.
Studies say weight gain from quitting smoking or vaping is often manageable and temporary. When you are pregnant, healthy weight gain tells us that your baby is growing. Gaining a healthy amount of weight also helps with your breastmilk supply. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much weight to gain during pregnancy and help you manage your weight if you gain more than is recommended. If gaining weight concerns you, talk to your healthcare provider.
Prevent poisoning
Tobacco and nicotine products like cigarettes, vapes, and NRTs have enough nicotine in them to make a child or animal sick. They can even cause death from poisoning.
Children and pets may swallow, inhale, or absorb (through their skin) nicotine from these products. Keep tobacco and all nicotine products out of reach and hidden from view. This includes NRTs. Make sure others keep these products away from your children and pets too.
Throw products away safely so that your children or pets can’t see them or get to them.
For poisoning and drug information in Alberta, call the
Poison and Drug Information Service (PADIS) at 1-800-332-1414.
Note: Tobacco on this page refers to commercial tobacco products, like cigarettes sold in stores. It does not include the traditional tobacco used by First Nations and some Métis groups for ceremonial purposes and as a sacred medicine.
Nicotine products does not refer to or include medical nicotine replacement therapies.
