Healthy Babies

When a pregnant women smokes, she is exposing her unborn baby to all kinds chemicals found in the cigarette. 

When a pregnant woman smokes, and continues to smoke when the baby is born:

¨      There is a greater risk of a spontaneous abortion, or still birth (meaning the baby could die even before it is born).

¨      The baby is likely to have a lower birth weight.

¨      The baby is 2 to 5 times more likely to die of Sudden Infants Death Syndrome (SIDS).

¨      The new mom produces 30% less breast milk making it difficult to feed the baby.

The best thing a Mom-to-be can do for her baby is to quit smoking.  After just one day of not smoking, the unborn baby will get more oxygen.  Quitting smoking will also increases the chances that the baby’s lungs will work properly, the baby will be a healthy weight, and the baby will not be born too early.

For more information – see our Quitting Smoking During Pregnancy page.