Quitting smoking or vaping is one of the best things you can do for your baby's health, and yours. Find out why quitting matters, how to protect your baby from smoke and vape exposure, and where to get support to quit.

Quitting during pregnancy matter

When you quit smoking or vaping, you help your baby's healthy g​rowth and development by giving them:

• more oxygen and nutrients through the umbilical cord
• increased blood flow
• reduced stress.

When you quit, you are also decreasing your risk of:

• miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the womb)
• premature birth (your baby being born too early)
• having a small or unwell baby, which puts your baby's life in danger and can make labour more difficult.

Smoking and vaping are not safe in pregnancy. Both contain harmful chemicals, and smoking also exposes you and your baby to carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas. The sooner you quit, the greater the beneifts

Staying quit after your baby is born

Staying smoke- and vape-free helps you to protect your baby’s small, growing lungs and reduce their risk of:

• Lung infections, asthma and ear infections
• Sudden unexplained death in infancy (SUDI).

Breastfee​ding and smoking and vaping

Breastfeeding is one of the best ways to protect your baby’s health. It provides important nutrients and

immune protection. Even if you have not quit smoking or vaping, breastfeeding is better than not breastfeeding.

To reduce your baby’s exposure while breastfeeding:

• Avoid smoking or vaping for at least one hour before breastfeeding
• Always smoke or vape outside
• Wear a dedicated “smoking jacket” or hair covering and remove these before going inside and holding your baby. This helps prevent the smoke that clings to your clothing and hair from affecting the baby
• Wash your face and hands before touching your baby
• Encourage family and visitors to do the same.

Protect your baby from passive smoking and vaping

Passive smoking or vaping happens when someone breathes in smoke or vapour exhaled by others, exposing them to the harmful chemicals without actively smoking or vaping.

Babies and young children have delicate lungs, making them more vulnerable to the harms of passive smoking and vaping. To reduce your baby’s exposure, ask your family and visitors to:

• smoke or vape outside your home or car
• wash their face and hands before touching your baby
• change clothes worn while smoking or vaping before holding your baby.

It's never too late to quit, and support is available.

Getting support to quit

Quitting can be challenging but you don't have to do it alone. Free, confidential support is available to help you succeed.

• Call Quitline 13 78 48 (13 QUIT) to speak with a trained counsellor.
• Counsellors are available in multiple languages
• Aboriginal counsellors are available on request
• Talk to your healthcare team. Your doctor, midwife, child and family health nurse or Aboriginal health professional are there to provide support.
• Talk to your family about quitting as a household.
• Visit icanquit for tools and tips or check out quitting supports apps:
• The My Quit Buddy app (free) for quitting smoking
• The PAVE app (free) for quitting vaping

Medications to Help You Quit

Every time someone smokes around you or your baby, you are all smoking too. This is called ‘passive smoking’. Passive smoking can affect the health of babies and children:

• babies and young children have smaller, more delicate lungs than adults. This means they are more affected by tobacco smoke
• keep your baby safe by asking smokers to always go outside your home and car to smoke.

Try quitting without NRT first

If you’ve tried quitting and it’s too hard, consider using NRT as it is safer than continuing to smoke or vape.

• First try oral NRT (gum or lozenges), which is the preferred medication to help you quit during pregnancy. Take oral NRT after breastfeeding to reduce your baby’s exposure.
• Add NRT patches if oral NRT isn’t helping you quit. These long-acting patches stay on your skin for 16 hours. It's recommended you take them off during the night (8 hour break each day).

A combination of patches and oral NRT can also be used while breastfeeding. You may need a higher dose of NRT as your body processes nicotine faster during pregnancy.