What are the benefits of becoming a smoke free home?

You will immediately reduce the risk to your family of the following:

• Lung cancer

• Heart disease
• Chest infections (e.g. Bronchitis & Pneumonia)
• Cot Death
• Meningitis
• Coughs, colds and wheezes
• Middle ear infection (Glue Ear) may cause partial deafness

Also, children living in a smoke free home are less likely to:

• Have asthma attacks & chest infections
• Need hospital care in their first year of life
• Need time off school

 

You're pregnant. Congratulations!

But if you smoke, it means that your baby shares chemicals from the smoke you breathe. It also means that the dangerous chemicals in other people's smoke - secondhand smoke - can affect your baby.

By creating a smoke free environment during your pregnancy, your baby will be less likely to:

• Be affected by the chemicals from secondhand smoke.  One of these is a dangerous chemical called carbon monoxide that restricts the oxygen essential for your baby's growth and development.  So their tiny heart has to beat faster.

By reducing your baby's exposure to secondhand smoke during pregnancy, you will also reduce the risk of:

• Miscarriage / Still birth.
• Premature birth.
• Low birth weight babies.
• Sudden infant death (SIDS) commonly known as cot death.

Important facts for dad-to-be, family members and friends.

By reducing your baby’s exposure to secondhand smoke during the pregnancy,
you will reduce the risk of:

• Low birth weight.
• Sudden Infant Death (SIDS) commonly known as Cot Death.

Also if your partner is a smoker, by ensuring that you create a smoke free environment during the pregnancy, this will encourage your partner to quit smoking

• Help your partner as she stops smoking. For example: make sure that there are no reminders of smoking, like ashtrays or cigarettes, around the house.
• And let her know that she can call the NHS Pregnancy Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 9169 for support.